Parc des Princes: Paris and the home of PSG
The Parc des Princes in the south-west of Paris is the home of Paris Saint-Germain and one of the most storied stadiums in France. With a capacity of 47,929, it is smaller than the Stade de France out in Saint-Denis, but it is the true home of club football in the capital and has hosted some of the most significant matches in European history. The stadium appears on the map.
A site of three stadiums
The name Parc des Princes refers to a site that has hosted sporting venues since the nineteenth century, when it was used for cycling. The first stadium gave way to a second in the 1930s, and the current structure, the third on the site, was designed by the architect Roger Taillibert and opened in 1972. Taillibert, who later designed the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, gave the Parc its distinctive form: a continuous ring of concrete ribs supporting the roof with no internal pillars, an elegant and influential piece of stadium engineering for its time.
Early football and rugby history
Before the current stadium, the Parc des Princes hosted matches at the 1938 FIFA World Cup and was for many years the home of the France national football team and the finishing point of the Tour de France. It also staged rugby internationals as the home of the French national rugby team for decades, and several European Cup finals were played there, including Real Madrid's victories in the 1950s and later finals in 1975 and 1981. Its role as the principal showpiece ground of French sport lasted until the Stade de France opened in 1998.
The rise of Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain, founded in 1970, made the Parc des Princes its home and grew over the following decades into the dominant force in French football. The transformation accelerated dramatically after the 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments, which brought enormous financial resources and a succession of global stars to the club, among them Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and, briefly, Lionel Messi. The Parc has been the backdrop to PSG's serial Ligue 1 titles and its long pursuit of the Champions League.
Atmosphere and the ultras
The Parc des Princes is renowned for the atmosphere generated by PSG's organised supporters, concentrated in the Virage Auteuil and the Tribune Boulogne behind the goals. After a turbulent period in which the club restricted ultra activity, the return of organised support transformed the matchday experience, with elaborate tifos and relentless singing making the Parc one of the most vibrant grounds in France on a Champions League night. The intensity of Parisian support has grown alongside the club's ambitions.
Major matches and events
In addition to its club role, the Parc des Princes has hosted matches at UEFA Euro 2016 and continues to stage occasional France internationals and major fixtures. It was also a venue at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, hosting football matches, reaffirming its place in the sporting fabric of the city. Its central Parisian location, unlike the more peripheral Stade de France, makes it especially attractive for occasions tied to the capital itself.
The question of expansion
PSG's ambitions have outgrown the Parc's capacity, and for years the club and the city of Paris, which owns the stadium, have negotiated over expansion or a possible move to a new, larger ground. The desire for more seats and modern hospitality must be balanced against the heritage of Taillibert's design and the constraints of the dense urban site. The outcome will shape the future of football in the capital for decades.
Visiting the Parc
The stadium is easily reached on the Paris Metro, close to the Porte de Saint-Cloud. The PSG museum and stadium tour take visitors through the dressing rooms, the players' tunnel and pitchside, with the club's modern trophies and history on display. For visitors to Paris, a match at the Parc — particularly in Europe — offers a striking contrast to the city's calmer cultural attractions.
Explore on the map
You can find the Parc des Princes and the other great grounds of Paris and France on our interactive map, which lets you explore stadiums across the country and the world.