About Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is the historic exhibition centre of Paris, opened in 1923 and continuously expanded since. The 228,000 m complex spans eight pavilions inside the periphique ring road in the 15th arrondissement, with the iconic Hall 7 (the "Grande Halle Sud") visible from Tour Eiffel.
The hall portfolio
Pavilions 1 through 8 form the main exhibition complex. Pavilion 7 is the largest single-volume hall at 65,000 m and hosts Vivatech and the Foire de Paris main floors. Pavilion 1 (Grande Halle Nord) handles the most prestigious events - the Mondial de lAutomobile uses it as its flagship hall in years when the show is at Versailles rather than Villepinte. Pavilion 4 and 5 host the Cite des Sciences-style consumer activations. Ceiling heights range from 9 m in the older pavilions to 16 m in the central Pavilion 1.
Signature events
Vivatech every June is Europes largest startup and tech trade fair, drawing 9,000 exhibitors and 165,000 visitors. The Mondial de lAutomobile (the Paris Motor Show, biennial) alternates between Versailles and Villepinte and remains one of the worlds top auto shows. The Foire de Paris is a 100-year-old consumer exhibition. SIMI (commercial real estate), Maison&Objet (smaller editions), and the Salon de lAgriculture (the famous agricultural show) round out the calendar.
Logistics for exhibitors
The venue is served by Metro Line 12 (Porte de Versailles) and Tram T3a (Porte de Versailles), 15 minutes from Montparnasse and 30 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Schenker and GEODIS are the appointed on-site forwarders. The venues central location inside Paris means freight access is tightly time-managed - truck deliveries must happen between 22:00 and 06:00 to avoid blocking the boulevard.
Working at Versailles
French exhibition culture is hierarchical and process-led. French-language drawings significantly speed up plan approval. CE-marked electrical components are mandatory. Build-up windows are typically four days for mid-size shows, longer for Vivatech and the Mondial de lAuto. Lunch breaks between 12:30 and 14:00 are immovable. Hotels in the 14e and 15e arrondissements (Mercure, Pullman, Novotel) fill first; central Paris is 25 minutes by metro.
What your builder handles at this venue
Schenker and GEODIS share the on-site forwarder role at Paris Expo. International freight clears French customs at Charles de Gaulle Cargo or Orly Cargo. EU shipments cross without formalities; non-EU shipments require advance manifest submission via the French DELTA-X system. ATA Carnets are accepted and processed through the on-site Viparis customs desk.
Truck docks are positioned at the rear of each pavilion, accessed via Avenue Ernest Renan. Because the venue sits inside Paris, truck deliveries are restricted to 22:00-06:00 to comply with Paris city centre noise regulations. Truck slots must be booked through the Viparis MyExhibition portal at least 14 days in advance. The off-site truck staging area at Rungis handles overflow.
Forklifts (3 and 5 tonne) and mobile cranes (up to 25 tonne) are bookable through Viparis. Rigging in Pavilions 1 and 7 requires structural calculations stamped by a French Bureau Veritas or Apave engineer. Maximum rigging point load is 800 kg in older pavilions and 1,200 kg in Pavilion 1.
Standard stand connections are 16A or 32A 3-phase. French law requires CONSUEL certification for all stand electrical installations. Power-on inspection by a Viparis-approved engineer must clear 6 hours before doors.
Build-up: 08:00-22:00 weekdays, with restricted Sunday hours. Truck deliveries between 22:00 and 06:00 only. Dismantle begins 30 minutes after close and must clear within 48 hours. French labour law (35-hour week, overtime documentation) applies to all crew working on site.