Hangar Y : the huge cultural place in Meudon, our pictures

With 200,000 visitors expected per year in the park and 60,000 in the sumptuous building with its immense glass roof, the Hangar Y site is one of those unifying cultural and event venues whose reopening was eagerly awaited. Located in the heart of nature, in a sublime 9-hectare park on the heights of Meudon in the Hauts-de-Seine department, Hangar Y showcases the work of several artists on universal themes such as art, science and nature.

Hangar Y is a 70-metre-long, 23-metre-high building with 3,500 m2 of exhibition space and a large Eiffel-style nave, as well as a huge park with sculptures, a 3-hectare pool and entertainment and catering facilities. With Hangar Y, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in an experience combining"history and modernity, technical prowess, art and sublimated nature", as the official website puts it.

Unsurprisingly, the reopening of Hangar Y in Meudon is causing quite a stir. The site, the first airship hangar, is considered a jewel in France's industrialheritage. Here's a look back at the history of this unique complex in the Paris region. It was in 1878, on the occasion of the Paris Universal Exhibition, that this fabulous building was constructed by architect Henri de Dion. It became the world's first airship workshop. The Hangar Y 's reputation came to the fore on August 9, 1884, when the building hosted the world's first closed-circuit airship flight.

Unfortunately, over the years, this jewel of 19th-century industrial architecture fell into oblivion. After being transformed into the first Air and Space Museum after the First World War, Hangar Y closed its doors for good in 1981. In 1990, the site passed into the hands of the French Ministry of Culture. 10 years later, it was listed as a historic monument. We'll have to wait until 2018 to see the rehabilitation project come to fruition.

After a pre-opening in 2022, the Hangar Y will truly rise from the ashes in 2023, after 40 long years of neglect. Already open to privatization since January, Hangar Y is now open to all.

Hangar Y: a cultural and events venue

But what can we expect? The artistic program orchestrated by the Art Explora Foundation promises to be rich and eclectic, appealing to families as well as art, science and nature lovers. During a press tour organized on March 21, 2023, we had the opportunity to discover this new cultural mecca in the Paris region.

Once on this immense 9-hectare site, you can't help but be impressed by the grandeur of Hangar Y. Our gaze is immediately drawn to the incredible glass roof, and the beautiful luminosity that only enhances the works on display. Then there's the iron structure, the exposed brickwork, and the mezzanines on either side of the central nave.

But the highlight of the show is to be discovered from above. Suspended from the structure is the monumental, permanent installation by Korean artist Lee Bul, entitled"Willing To Be Vulnerable". Like a tribute to the history of the site, this majestic work in the shape of a dirigible balloon is a real eye-catcher.

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In all, Hangar Y offers two major temporary exhibitions a year. The venue is also committed to VR, with an immersive experience that allows visitors to rediscover the history of the site through the use of a headset. Hangar Y, which also houses a café and store, is only open to the general public on weekends, public holidays and school vacations (except December 25 and January 1), from 10am to 8pm.

On the other hand, the park is open to visitors all week long, offering them a veritable journey of outdoor artworks in resonance with nature. The site features two permanent installations by Subodh Gupta and Christian Boltanski. While Gupta has created an incredible work entitled " Cooking the world " from over 1,000 used pots and pans from India, Boltanski bewitches us with his 180 twinkling bells.

The works change with the seasons, and while some remain, others make their appearance. This allows you to rediscover the site and enjoy its unique setting, every time. Note that the park is open to visitors free of charge during the week, from Monday to Friday. At weekends, on public holidays and during vacation, admission is €3.

Finally, the site, which revolves around Hangar Y, the park and the undergrowth, has added two buildings: a workshop dedicated to events and privatization, and a 300-seat restaurant. Les Roseaux is the name of the new restaurant, where you can now enjoy the cuisine of Laura Portelli and Christophe Saintagne. In summer, a festive guinguette is set up on the lakeside for lively evenings.

In short, there's no shortage of reasons to come and discover the Hangar Y revival. But one question is likely to be asked frequently: how do you get to the site, located on the edge of the forest? There are several possibilities, starting with public transport, with RER line C (Meudon Val Fleury station), Transilien line N (Meudon station) or buses 169, 289 and 389. If you prefer to come by car or bike, there's also a dedicated parking area. Last but not least, Hangar Y will be offering (until the end of April) private shuttles from Paris, in partnership with Transdev.

So, are you ready to push open the doors of the new Hangar Y in Meudon? Join us on March 22, 2023 to discover this new cultural venue in the Paris region.

To discover at Hangar Y:

Matisse - Soulages, new virtual reality experiences at Hangar Y
Hangar Y plunges us into the artistic universe of two great masters of modern and contemporary art: Matisse and Soulages reveal themselves in two brand-new virtual reality experiences from October 18, 2025 to March 8, 2026. [Read more]

The Hangar Y's contemporary open-air exhibition is back! An artistic stroll in the green
The Hangar Y, which conceals a 10-hectare natural area planted with trees, offers a year-round open-air art walk, free on weekdays and €3 with access to the Hangar on weekends. Since April 28, 2025, new works have been added to the circuit. From Erwin Wurm and Lionel Sabatte to Pauline Tralongo and Odile Decq, it's time for an unusual, unplugged stroll through the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine. [Read more]