Board a flight without a ticket to marvel at a technical feat that used to make the whole of France dream on Sunday afternoons? It’s the cheeky little escape offered by Paris-Orly Airport, perched straddling Essonne and the Val-d'Oise, rooted in the southern Île-de-France. From October 16 to 18, 2026, the National Architecture Days return to set the pulse of Paris and Île-de-France racing again. This cultural rendezvous invites curious minds and enthusiasts to cast a fresh eye on our built environment, to decode the choices of designers, and to step through the doors of familiar edifices from a new angle. On the edge of the runways, this vast aviation showcase proves that travel begins first with the eyes.
Inaugurated with great ceremony in 1961 by General de Gaulle under the name Orly Sud (today Orly 4), the terminal carries the signature of chief architect Henri Vicariot. The building embodies superbly the International Style of the Thirty Glorious Years, a postwar movement built on geometric purity, the primacy of function, and the showcase of technical progress. The edifice impresses with its bold glass curtain wall stretching over more than 500 metres, supported by lacquered metal profiles and light steel beams. This transparent lattice allowed natural light to flood the halls while offering a direct view of the aircraft ballet.
In the 1960s, the site was France's most-visited monument, even surpassing the Eiffel Tower, drawing crowds who came to watch the runways from its famous observation terraces. Gilbert Bécaud is said to have written his song Sunday at Orly right there, propped against the railing after spilling his coffee on a flight plan.
The 2026 Architecture Days program at Paris-Orly Airport
Come explore the Paris‑Orly Belvedère and let the airport of tomorrow inspire you!
✨ Discover Paris-Orly from a fresh perspective
For the National Architecture Days 2026, themed “Rehabilitate: building the future,” ADP Group’s Engineering & Capital Projects (ECP) teams are opening the Belvedere at Paris-Orly to the public—exceptionally.
Designed as a real showcase for sustainable construction, this 3,500 m² space brings together concrete solutions for imagining the airports of tomorrow.
🌳 A 100% timber structure, lightweight and suited to building on an existing site, with the potential to achieve a negative carbon balance in the structural part.
♻️ Durable, innovative materials: timber, plant-based fiber insulations, recycled and recyclable materials, geosourced cladding… the project tests new building approaches while trimming environmental impact.
🌱 More greenery and biodiversity, with multiple green roof spaces and design features intended to better integrate the infrastructure into its surroundings.
☀️ Bi-glass photovoltaic canopies that generate low-carbon energy and enhance the site’s thermal comfort.
🏛️ A heritage site given new life
Orly’s Hall 4 terraces, once highly prized for their sweeping views of the runways and the Eiffel Tower, are being reimagined with a fresh purpose.
An rehabilitation that dialogue between heritage, contemporary architecture and environmental imperatives.
👀 Why visit?
This tour lets you peek behind the scenes of a remarkable project, see in practice the solutions deployed, and speak with the teams who helped shape it.
An experimental project, a place to discover, and above all… a concrete glimpse of how we can rehabilitate today to build tomorrow.
👉 Come and explore the Belvedere at Paris-Orly and let yourself be inspired by the airport of the future!
📅 Dates and times of visits
Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕙 10:00 – 12:00
Sunday, October 18, 2026
🕙 10:00 – 12:00
Registration deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026 at 12:00.
👥 Maximum 20 people per visit
📌 Practical information
Registration mandatory at the address:
When registering, please attach a valid identity document.
⚠️ The identity document must also be presented on the day of the visit.
📩 Visitors will receive a confirmation email a few days before the tour.
Participation conditions: Limited to 20 people — ID to be sent and brought on the day — Free | Reservation required - inscriptions-visites@adp.fr
Schedule: Saturday, October 17, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Sunday, October 18, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
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Dates and Opening Time
From October 17, 2026 to October 18, 2026
Location
Orly Airport
Aéroport de Paris-Orly
94390 Aeroport d'Orly
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