Behind-the-scenes of UNESCO - exclusive guided tour of the Paris Headquarters

Discover your guided tour

Cultival opens the doors of the UNESCO Headquarters, one of the world’s most prestigious international organisations, located in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, close to the Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower. Usually closed to the public, this iconic site is revealed through an exclusive guided tour. Designed in the late 1950s by Bernard Zehrfuss, Marcel Breuer, and Pier Luigi Nervi, the building is a masterpiece of modern architecture, instantly recognisable by its pleated façade and bold, geometric volumes. Throughout the tour, you explore the site’s key areas: the monumental entrance hall, reception spaces, outdoor perspectives and, depending on security conditions, some of the most emblematic spaces of UNESCO’s institutional life.
 

Discover how an international organisation works

This guided tour focuses on the missions and global impact of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. Accompanied by your expert guide, you will learn how UNESCO operates day to day, how member states shape major strategic directions, and why this Headquarters is a key location for international cultural diplomacy. You will have access to areas connected to the organisation's day-to-day activities, including one of the Headquarters' iconic conference rooms, where debates, meetings and major international sessions are held.
 

A remarkable art collection

The UNESCO Headquarters is home to a remarkable art collection, assembled throughout the Organisation's history through commissions, acquisitions, and donations. Spanning a wide geographical and chronological range, the collection brings together works dating from the Neolithic period to contemporary art. Integrated into the corridors, halls and gardens of UNESCO Headquarters, these works are not displayed as they would be in a traditional museum. Instead, they engage in dialogue with the architecture and form part of the institution’s everyday life. Monumental paintings, sculptures, installations and contemporary works reflect the diversity of cultures represented within UNESCO and illustrate the Organisation’s commitment to artistic and intercultural dialogue. The tour offers the opportunity to discover a selection of works from this collection. It also includes iconic outdoor spaces such as the Garden of Peace and the Meditation Space, where art, nature and architecture come together in a spirit of contemplation and openness.