Palais de la Porte Dorée

The Palais de la Porte Dorée stands as a monumental example of Art Deco architecture at the edge of the Bois de Vincennes. It was constructed for the 1931 International Colonial Exhibition, an event designed to display the perceived grandeur and resources of the French colonial empire to millions of visitors. While most of the structures built for that massive exposition were temporary and eventually demolished, this building was designed as a permanent fixture to anchor the event and symbolize imperial power.