Grenoble: The Perret Tower reopens to the public after 66 years of closure

After more than six decades of closure, the public can once again access the Perret Tower in Grenoble. Inaugurated during an evening event on Friday, July 10, the monument welcomed its first visitors the very next day in Paul-Mistral Park.

Its reopening comes after two and a half years of work devoted in particular to the restoration of its reinforced concrete structure, the consolidation of its foundations and the refurbishment of its elevators.

The last vestige of the 1925 International Exposition

Built by Auguste Perret for the International Exhibition of White Coal and Tourism held in Grenoble in 1925, the tower is the last built vestige of this event.

Standing over 90 meters tall, it rests on eight reinforced concrete pillars and is distinguished by its openwork walls. The structure was listed as a historical monument in 1998.

During its construction, the tower marked "a profound break with the canons of construction, then devoted to stone and metal," recalls the City of Grenoble.

A €15,5 million restoration project

Closed to the public in 1960, the tower showed significant deterioration of its concrete, notably due to corrosion of the steel reinforcement. Preliminary studies and a pilot project led to the development of an intervention protocol involving scientists, heritage specialists, and construction companies.

Launched in the fall of 2023, the restoration represents an investment of 15,5 million euros. The State contributed 5 million euros and the Isère department 3 million euros.

The Heritage Foundation also organized a public fundraising campaign. This raised nearly 297.000 euros to help finance the project.

A pilot project for the restoration of reinforced concrete

Beyond the preservation of the Grenoble monument, the methods developed for this project should contribute to improving knowledge on the conservation of 20th century reinforced concrete buildings facing similar pathologies.

Auguste Perret "wanted to demonstrate the plastic and structural capabilities of this new material," emphasizes the Heritage Foundation.

"He produced an extraordinary work whose constructive principles foreshadowed the Modern Movement in architecture. This 'tower to look at the mountains', in his own words, is one of his rare achievements to have reached us in its original state," emphasizes the Heritage Foundation.

Tours up to 85 meters high

Visitors can now access the main platform, located 60 meters high, either on foot or by elevator, and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Grenoble and the surrounding mountains. Guided tours allow visitors to continue the ascent to the summit platform, located at 85 meters.

The tower is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 19 pm during the summer. Visits are by time slot and booking is strongly recommended. An elevator provides access to the main platform, located 60 meters above, for people with reduced mobility.