Paris Transforming Historical Sites Into Olympic Venues (Olympics 2024 Travel Plan Made Easy)

Aug 2, 2024

Last Updated on: Nov 24, 2025

Travel Guides

Paris is the land of multiple World Heritage Sites, such as the Eiffel Tower and Château de Versailles and many other structures showing the excellence of French architecture. So, there is no wonder that Paris is transforming historical sites into Olympic venues. 

However, there are multidimensional aspects behind choosing these important sites or places of tourist attractions as Olympic venues. Of course, it’s a brilliant move to boost tourism in the “World’s Most Powerful City Destination.” The Travel and Tourism Sector of Paris was worth a whopping $36BN USD in 2022.  

Further, choosing these sites as Olympic venues has a sustainability aspect. It’s an endeavor to reduce the carbon footprint drastically and make the Paris Olympics the “Greenest Olympics” ever.  

Are you traveling to Paris and have plans to catch up on the Olympic events? Get your travel plan right by knowing the historical places to visit, why they are significant travel destinations, and how choosing them as Olympic venues is a sustainable move.  

Paris Transforming Historical Sites Into Olympic Venues (Make Changes In Your Travel Plans) 

Various historical sites in Paris have become the stage for gala Olympic events. So, know the historical places to visit if you are traveling to Paris now and want to enjoy the games and the history of the iconic city altogether.  

Here, you will first see a table mentioning the historical venues and the Olympic events that will take place there. Later, you will find brief descriptions of the historical importance of these places.  1

Historical Site Olympic 2024 Event  
The Seine River The Olympics Opening Ceremony Men’s Marathon Swimming Competition (Tentatively on 8th and 9th August 2024 After Postponement) 
Eiffel Tower Stadium  Beach Volleyball and Blind Football 
Pont Alexandre III Triathlon, Para triathlon, Swimming Marathon, and Individual Cycling Time Trials 
The Grand Palais Taekwondo and Fencing 
Château de Versailles Equestrian events from July 27th to August 11th and from September 3rd to 7th, 2024 
The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (92) Field Hockey Games  

It All Begins On The Seine River With The Opening Ceremony  

Best Time To Visit The Seine River: June-August 

The 2024 Olympics has seen the most unusual opening ceremony held on the Seine River. The river is named after Sequana, a Celtic Goddess.  

Further, this river has been an important bearer of French culture, identity, and life. l’école de Honfleur, one of the most prominent impressionist movements in France, was inspired by this river.  

Also, as you take a boat ride in this river, you can see the most iconic monuments in the city. Looking at the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum is surely going to be a lifetime experience for you. The Sainte Chapelle and Cathedral of Notre Dame are other significant pieces of architecture that can be seen from the river.  

The Eiffel Tower Stadium  

Best Season To Visit The Eiffel Tower Stadium: June to September 

Are you looking for “Paris tourist sites Olympics 2024?” Visit the Eiffel Tower Stadium on the Champ-de-Mars. Beach volleyball games at this venue are already gathering a lot of attention, with tourists finding the place “Instagrammable.”  

The Eiffel Tower is the stadium and is often interpreted as the tangible form of the human desire to reach the sky. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and today it is the most visited “paid monument” in the world.  

Pont Alexandre III 

Pont Alexandre III 

Best Season to Visit: September to April 

Pont Alexandre III is a bridge named after Russian Tsar Alexandre III, and it celebrates the historic alliance between Russia and France. This year, the bridge will be entering its 125th year as it was built between 1896 and 1900 for the “1900 World Fair.”  

With a steel base, the bridge stands out for its gold-plated statues of bronze, cast-iron lamps, and stone pillars.  

The Grand Palais 

Best Season to Visit: September to June 

The Grand Palais is dedicated to the “glory of French Art.” It was built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. Exactly 100 years after its foundation, the Grand Palais got its designation as a historic monument in 2000.  

This architectural excellence was made with glass, stone, and steel. It portrays an excellent fusion of the Baroque style and classicism.  

Further, the polychrome friezes in the ceramics and mosaics, iconic statutes, and embellishments tell fascinating stories about the excellence of French architecture and art.  

Château de Versailles 

Château de Versailles 

Best Season to Visit: April to October 

The Château de Versailles is a World Heritage Site (designated in 1979) with its grounds and gardens. It is the official residence of the French King and also the largest Château in the world. Further, it is the greatest outcome of the 17th century French Art

Built by King Louis XIV, the palace today has a magnificent presence covering 63,154 m2 area. However, the Château de Versailles is not just a remarkable site for its magnanimousity. It also stands tall for its creative excellence and originality.  

Moreover, the Château de Versailles was 

The absolute seat of power of the monarch, Versailles was the best formulated and best adapted crucible for French court life for a century and a half (Louis XIV perfectioned “etiquette”) and artistic creation in the domain of music, theatre and the decorative arts. Numerous scientific discoveries were presented there, encouraged by the kings, founders of royal academies.” 

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (92) 

Best Season to Visit: Any Season 

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (92) makes history as one of the rarest venues to host two Olympic games. It was the main venue for the 1924 Summer Olympics, and this year, it will host the field hockey games.  

The stadium gets its name from Yves du Manoir, a noted French rugby player.  

Transforming Historical Sites Into Olympic Venues: An Important Aspect Of Sustainable Promises  

Paris Olympics 2024 promotes and practices the complete use of renewable energy. The locally sourced renewable energy is a fruit of the Olympics’ goal of maintaining sustainability. If you are traveling to different Olympic venues in Paris, you will notice the following sustainable practices. 

  • No use of diesel generators 
  • Connection to the grid, enabling the use of sustainable energy 
  • Solar panels in the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Village 
  • Geothermal cooling systems in the Olympic Village (No use of traditional airconditioning system) 
  • Use of recyclable material in building the Aquatics Centre, the only new permanent venue  

More Insight Into Sustainable Transformation Of The World’s Most Iconic Tourist Sites Into Olympic Venues In 2024 

Further, the International Olympic Committee and Paris are abiding by the promise of sustainability by transforming historical sites into Olympic venues. In the Paris Olympics 2024, 95% of the events will take place at existing historical sites or buildings. This is a conscious decision to practice economic and environmental sustainability.  2, 3

Overall, the Paris Olympics 2024, by transforming historical sites into Olympic venues and using renewable energy, is trying to be the “greenest Olympics ever.” The plan is to reduce the carbon emissions to half in comparison to the previous chapters in London, Rio, and Tokyo (2012, 2016, 2020).  

The Committee is particular about its commitment to legacy planning. Further, the reuse of infrastructures is going to be a crucial factor in making the events carbon neutral.  

In addition, by choosing the historical sites in Paris as Olympic venues, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) takes one step forward in its effort to minimize the environmental impact of the game. This IOC initiative has been going on since 2017.  

Paris organizers, however, made their stance clear on converting historical sites into temporary Olympic venues in 2016. In a report to the International Olympic Committee, they wrote,  

Temporary venues in iconic locations, which will see the city’s greatest sites transformed into stunning stages for sport and embedding the Games in the public domain.” 

Along with practicing sustainability, this move has been a wonderful way to impress spectators and get more advertisers and sponsors on board.  

Olympics On Mind: Space Travel And The Greatest Sports Event 

The frenzy for the Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris reaches the sky. The six living astronauts in the International Space Station showed that they had the Olympics on their minds.  

Jeanette Epps, Mike Barratt, Sunita Williams, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, and Butch Wilmore kickstarted their mini Olympics in space by passing the Olympic torch.  

In the July 26th video published by NASA, we get to see how the astronauts playfully gear up for their events. Jeanette Epps and Sunita Williams shook up their arms, and Butch Wilmore gulped a water globule roaming around his head. Then, he stretched his upper body.  

Sunita Williams further showed some gymnastics moves to up the Olympic spirit in space. However, Butch Wilmore shot-putting a duct tape ball and Mike Barratt launching a discus were the highlights of the fun activities in space.  

Matthew Dominick, the NASA scientist currently living off Earth, has said, “Over the past few days on the International Space Station, we’ve had an absolute blast pretending to be Olympic athletes.” The activities were more fun because of the weightlessness in the space.  4

Who knew that there would be a marriage of space travel and the Olympics like this?  

Final Words  

With Paris transforming historical sites into Olympic venues, it’s time to plan a trip to the French capital from 26th July to 11th August

It’s time you enjoy the greatest sports events and encounter the best chapters of French history at once. These picturesque locations are also great for clicking photographs for posterity and garnering attention on your socials.

Also, visiting these places this season can be a small contribution on your behalf to acknowledging the importance of sustainability in travel, tourism, and gala events.  

So, are you planning to visit Paris during the Olympics? Bon voyage!

Also read


  1. World Travel & Tourism Council (WITC) – World Travel & Tourism Council is the “forum for the travel and tourism industry.” With members from the global business community, it works to build awareness about travel and tourism.  ↩︎
  2. UNESCO World Heritage Convention – The World Heritage Convention was adopted by UNESCO on 16th November 1972. This convention is about protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the world. ↩︎
  3. Sustainability Magazine – Sustainability Magazine works as a digital hub for all sustainability news. It also connects the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) executives and sustainability experts of leading brands. ↩︎
  4. Olympic World Library – Olympic World Library is an online catalogue. Here, you can find a collection of more than 30000 publications by the Olympic Studies Centre. ↩︎

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Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!

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Connemara National Park: Where Guglielmo Marconi Invented The First Full Duplex Radio 

BY  Sibashree Sep 10, 2024

Connemara National Park has been an important Irish national park, having won the Green Flag Award in 2018. This international benchmark shows its worth as a green space and park. Further, in 2021, it also sought the New Heritage Site Accreditation, which shows the quality of the national park and how it is maintained in a sustainable way.   Moreover, this park is even rich in geology and houses many historical and archaeological sites. In addition, as an outdoor enthusiast, you can explore its various hiking and walking trails.   So, want to tour this Irish national park, which has a dash of history, culture, natural abundance, and more? 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In addition, it is astonishing to know that the final shaping of the park took place around 10000 years ago or during the last ice age.  The park has a rocky formation with boulder clay and a deposit of sand and gravel. The distinct geological features have contributed to the type of vegetation found in this area.   What Animals Are In Connemara National Park? Which Plants Does This Park Have?  The International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, has marked Connemara National Park as a Category II Protected Area. So, there is a constant endeavour to safeguard the landscape, wildlife, and ecology of the park unadulterated.   The park has many heritage breeds along with a wide range of protected flora and fauna. In addition, there are some conservation projects to protect the flora and fauna. The table below shows the details.  Birds* Stonechats Wrens Robins Peregrine Falcon Merlin Sparrowhawk Kestrel Mammals Nocturnal Animals  Pine Marten Bats Foxes Badgers  Diurnal Animals   Pygmy Shrews Red Deer Wood Mice Otters Hares Stoats Connemara Ponies Other Fauna Freshwater Pearl Mussel Salmon Trout Smooth Newt Common Frog Rare and Protected Plants and Other Flora Sundews Butterwort Purple Moor Grass Roseroot Purple Saxifrage Starry Saxifrage Pale Butterwort Lesser Twayblade Mountain Sorrel St. Patrick’s Cabbage St. Daboec’s Heath Heritage Breeds Connemara Ponies Cladoir Sheep Moiled Cattle Old Irish Goats Galway Sheep Conservation Projects** Control of Rhododendron Mweelin Exclosure New Found Wood Connemara Pony Cladoir Sheep Preservation Committee Irish Moiled Cattle & Conservation Grazing  *The national park has a large number of birds in the winter. 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Check out the table below.  Name of the Trail Difficulty Level Distance (in Km) Upper Diamond Hill Difficult 3.7 Lower Diamond Hill Moderate 3 Sruffaunboy Trail Easy 1.5 Ellis Wood Nature Trail  Easy 0.5  If you are planning to complete a multi-day hiking trip in the national park, you can consider camping here. However, you have to abide by the Wild Camping Code and the regulations related to the Camping Exclusion Zone.   Moreover, you can take a walk (self-guided) through the Tree Trail in the park. It begins from the Car Park Kiosk, and throughout the trail, you will meet tree varieties such as holly, hazel, oak, and Scots’ Pine.   Did You Know?  Through the Connemara National Park West Center and the Letterfrack Village, you can have a thought-provoking walk. The trail you will take is known as the Poetry Trail. Further, in various locations along the path, you will find nine poems by eminent Irish poets like Mary O’Malley and Moya Cannon, which are placed on plaques.   In addition, it is a one-of-a-kind experience for poetry lovers. Some of these nine poems talk about the park and its importance in Irish history. Further, the remaining ones are more generic in nature.   Exploring History At Connemara National Park  The archaeological and historical sites at Connemara National Park tell the tales of human lives and the history of the park for thousands of years. The park’s two megalithic tombs (West and East Tomb) in the park were already popular. However, thanks to the surveys of Helen Riekstins, an archaeologist and national park guide, we have 13 other sites that add to the importance of the park.   Among these 13 sites, six further have been visited by NMS or the National Monuments Service and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Here are the visited sites.  A standing stone  A cairn  Enclosures  A pre-bog wall  Nearby hut  A house  Further, the other seven sites are to be a part of the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) review for inclusion.   The pre-bog wall is likely to be associated with neolithic farming. On the other hand, the hut sites and standing stones are believed to be from the Bronze Age.   Connemara National Park has sites that are 10000 years old. These sites existed as coastal middens and belonged to the Mesolithic or Stone Age.  Many archaeological and historical sites are found near Diamond Hill, Letterfrack, and Mweelin.   The megalithic tombs in the park are around 4000 years old.   Connemara National Park is a twin historic site with Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland. These twinning sites speak for the cultural bond between Ireland and Canada.  Guglielmo Marconi, who received the patent for two-way radio in 1912, is associated with the place. Between Diamond Hill and Mweelin, he suspended the wires, and the current site of Bunaboghee Bog and Park Office had the second line. Here, he invented the first Full Duplex Radio.   So, the presence of various archaeological sites and the association with famous personalities make this park a delightful site for history lovers. Moreover, the Letterfrack Industrial School (1890) is a site important in modern history. Further, the school’s graveyard here tells the grave tales of injustices to the boys resting there.   Final Words   Located in County Galway, Connemara National Park covers around an area of 2,000 hectares. The park opened its door to visitors in 1980, and since then, it has been a place of attraction with its scenic beauty, geological variety, rich wildlife, and hiking trails.   The park also hosts many events like the Summer Evening Lecture Series and Heritage Week Celebration. Moreover, stargazing has become a popular activity in the park, and adults and children over 7 years of age can participate in the star-watching event. You can also check the National Parks website for the latest events at Connemara National Park.  So, are you planning a visit to this historically and naturally rich Irish national park anytime soon? Or have you already been to this wonderful place? Don’t forget to share your experience with us!  Also read Why Include Whale Watching In Your LA Itinerary. From Cocktails To Kickflips: Must-Try Activities In San Diego. Lake Clark National Park And Preserve: Very Few Know How It Preserves The Alaskan Spirit And Culture.