A vibrant cultural and sports hub housed in a beautifully restored historic hall, alive all year round.
Description
The Carreau du Temple is a former 1863 metal-covered market located in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement, on the historic Knights Templar grounds. In the late 19th century, six iron, glass, and brick pavilions replaced wooden structures, creating a hallmark of Parisian industrial architecture. Designated a historic monument in 1982, it narrowly escaped demolition thanks to community advocacy.
In 2004, a public vote decided its transformation into a multifunctional cultural and sports hub. The winning 2007 competition entry by Studio Milou delicately restored the original metallic frame and integrated modern facilities: an 1,800 m² hall, a 250-seat auditorium, dance studios, a dojo, a gym, and flexible basement spaces.
Since reopening in 2014, the Carreau du Temple functions as a 6,500 m² urban agora, hosting over 230 events annually—festivals (Food Temple, Everybody, Jogging…), concerts, exhibitions, fairs, civic discussions, alongside sports classes (judo, Pilates, yoga, boxing…) offered by around 50 associations. It also hosts around 50 artistic residencies each season.
The atmosphere is dynamic, inclusive, and multigenerational, designed by and for locals in the Marais and beyond, with strong accessibility measures: visual, auditory, and physical accommodations, plus seating for those with mobility needs or larger sizes .
Archaeological digs revealed the apse of the old Sainte-Marie-du-Temple church and even a Templar cemetery, highlighting the site’s deep historical roots. The space has hosted public fairs and carnival parades since medieval times.
For practical info: open Monday through Saturday, 10 am–10 pm; ticket desk open 10 am–6 pm weekdays, until 10 pm . Metro: Temple (line 3) or République (lines 3,5,8,9,11); bus stops nearby; PMR parking; Vélib’; assistance dogs permitted.
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