Westfield Forum des Halles
A large, largely underground shopping and leisure centre at the historic Les Halles site in central Paris.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Forum des Halles is a major shopping and leisure centre in the heart of Paris, occupying the site historically associated with Les Halles, the city's central wholesale food market. The centre is closely integrated with Châtelet–Les Halles, one of the most important metro and RER interchange stations in the Paris region, and forms part of a wider urban complex of retail, transport, public space and cultural activity. The location has been a commercial centre for many centuries. A market developed in the area known as Champeaux during the medieval period, and by the twelfth century the Crown had formalised the market and built covered halls for textile trading. Over time, food trading became dominant. The market was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt, culminating in the celebrated nineteenth-century glass-and-iron pavilions designed by Victor Baltard. Les Halles became one of Paris's defining urban institutions and was popularly described as the city's “belly,” a reference reinforced by Émile Zola's 1873 novel Le Ventre de Paris. The wholesale market increasingly suffered from congestion, limited space and the cost of maintaining the old facilities. Operations were progressively transferred to Rungis, south of Paris, and the last market activity at Les Halles ended in January 1973. The Baltard structures were demolished, apart from pavilions that were dismantled and reconstructed elsewhere. The site was then redeveloped around a major underground railway interchange. Châtelet–Les Halles was completed in 1977, and the Forum des Halles commercial complex opened on 4 September 1979. The original Forum, designed by Claude Vasconi and Georges Pencreac'h, was built over and around the underground transport infrastructure. Its architecture, along with the surrounding public garden and the wider post-market redevelopment, attracted sustained criticism. Commentators objected to the complex's concrete forms, difficult circulation and perceived disconnect from the historic character of central Paris. The area nevertheless became a major retail and transport destination, supported by its exceptional central location and very high passenger flows. A comprehensive renewal programme began in the 2000s. Paris authorities organised consultations and design competitions covering the Forum, the gardens and the station. David Mangin's approach was selected for the gardens, while Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti were chosen to redesign the commercial centre and transport connections. The resulting project replaced much of the earlier visual language with a more open public realm and a large, undulating glass-and-metal canopy, known as the Canopée. Construction began in 2010. The canopy was inaugurated in April 2016, and the principal construction programme was completed in 2018. Today, the centre combines retail space with restaurants, entertainment and services, while its identity is inseparable from the surrounding Les Halles district and its transport hub. Under the Westfield brand, it is positioned as a large urban destination rather than a conventional suburban mall. The centre benefits from both local consumers and visitors to Paris, and reference material has described it as attracting approximately 50 million visits annually, making it one of France's busiest shopping destinations. The complex also remains part of a contested architectural and urban history: its development replaced one of Paris's most recognisable historic markets, but its subsequent renewal sought to improve connections, accessibility and the quality of the public realm.
History
The history of Westfield Forum des Halles is rooted in the much older history of Les Halles, Paris's principal central market. A trading market developed at Champeaux during the medieval period. In 1183, Philip Augustus took control of the market and established covered halls, initially supporting textile and dry-goods commerce. Food trading expanded around the halls and gradually became the defining activity of the district. The market was rebuilt and enlarged several times. Among its notable historic structures was the Halle aux Blés, constructed in the eighteenth century and later converted into the Bourse de Commerce. In the nineteenth century, Victor Baltard designed a group of glass-and-iron pavilions that became an emblematic part of Paris. The market was also immortalised in cultural writing, most notably in Émile Zola's Le Ventre de Paris, which portrayed the crowded marketplace and its food economy. By the twentieth century, Les Halles was increasingly difficult to operate. The market's central position created severe congestion, while the ageing facilities required substantial investment. Fruit, flower and vegetable activities moved to the new wholesale market at Rungis in 1969. The remaining market operations ended on 12 January 1973. Most of the Baltard pavilions were demolished, although two were dismantled and reconstructed in other locations. The former market site became the focus of a major transport and urban redevelopment. Châtelet–Les Halles was developed as a central interchange for the RER and Paris metro system, with the principal railway works completed in 1977. The Forum des Halles opened on 4 September 1979. Designed by Claude Vasconi and Georges Pencreac'h, it placed a substantial commercial centre partly underground and linked it directly to the transport infrastructure. A public garden covering approximately four hectares opened in 1986, and nearby streets were progressively pedestrianised. The 1970s redevelopment was controversial from the beginning. Critics considered the architecture harsh and poorly suited to the historic district, while the urban layout was criticised for being difficult to navigate and for creating weak relationships between the shopping centre, the garden and surrounding streets. The criticism became part of the site's identity and helped drive later plans for a comprehensive renewal rather than a limited refurbishment. In 2002, the City of Paris initiated public consultation on the future of Les Halles. Competitions were held for the gardens and for the Forum itself. David Mangin's plan for the gardens was selected, proposing clearer east–west pedestrian routes and a more legible central lawn. In 2007, the design team of Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti was selected for the Forum redesign. Their concept centred on a broad, undulating canopy intended to provide a new civic and architectural identity while improving connections between the centre, the garden and the surrounding streets. Plans for the adjacent station included new entrances and an enlarged RER concourse. Construction began in 2010. The canopy was inaugurated in April 2016, and the wider construction programme was completed in 2018. The renewed complex subsequently operated under the Westfield identity within Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield's portfolio. Its commercial offer spans retail, dining, entertainment and services, while its location above one of the Paris region's busiest transport interchanges gives it an unusually large pedestrian catchment. The centre's present significance is therefore both commercial and urban. It is a major shopping destination, but it also occupies a site that has functioned as a market, transport node and public gathering place for centuries. The redevelopment resolved some circulation and accessibility problems while continuing the debate about how modern commercial architecture should coexist with the historic centre of Paris.
- 2018
Renewal construction is completed
[1]The principal building programme for the Forum, gardens and station was completed.
- 2016
The Canopée is inaugurated
[1]The new undulating canopy over the Forum opened in April, becoming the visual centrepiece of the redevelopment.
- 2010
Redevelopment construction starts
[1]Work began on the renewed Forum, public garden and Châtelet–Les Halles station.
- 2002
Comprehensive renewal process begins
[1]The City of Paris launched consultations on remaking the Forum, gardens and transport connections.
- 1986
Public garden opens
[1]A public garden of approximately four hectares was opened above and around the redeveloped site.
- 1979
Forum des Halles opens
[1]The partially underground shopping centre opened on 4 September in the presence of Paris mayor Jacques Chirac.
- 1977
Châtelet–Les Halles transport hub completed
[1]The central railway interchange was completed beneath the former market area.
- 1973
Les Halles market closes
[1]The last remaining market operations ended on 12 January, clearing the way for the site's redevelopment.
- 1969
Wholesale produce activities move to Rungis
[1]Fruit, flower and vegetable trading was transferred from central Paris to the new wholesale market at Rungis.
- 1850
Baltard's market structures are developed
[1]Victor Baltard designed the glass-and-iron pavilions that housed the market for more than a century.
Products and positioning
A centrally located, high-footfall urban shopping and leisure destination combining retail, dining, entertainment and transport connectivity.
Shopping centre retail · 1979
Retail stores
The centre provides a broad urban retail mix serving Paris residents, commuters and visitors. The offer includes fashion, beauty, consumer goods and other everyday and discretionary shopping categories. Its underground and multi-level layout is integrated with the surrounding public realm and transport interchange, making the centre function both as a destination and as a convenient retail stop within central Paris.
Food and beverage · 1979
Dining
Restaurants and food outlets form a major part of the centre's leisure offer. Dining serves a mixed audience of local shoppers, office workers, transport users and tourists, reflecting the site's position at the centre of Paris rather than in a self-contained suburban retail district.
Entertainment · 1979
Entertainment and leisure
The Forum includes entertainment uses alongside conventional retail and dining. These uses contribute to its positioning as an all-day urban destination and help connect the commercial complex with the wider cultural and public-life functions of the Les Halles district.
Architectural and public-space feature · 2016
Canopée
The Canopée is the large undulating glass-and-metal canopy created as the centrepiece of the 2010s renewal. It gives the Forum a distinctive contemporary identity, shelters parts of the public circulation network and visually links the shopping centre with the garden and surrounding streets.
Brand decisions
2010
Start of Forum, garden and station redevelopmentGeneration changeBackground
The renewal programme sought to address the shortcomings of the 1970s complex and improve access through the major transport interchange.
Action taken
Construction began on the redesigned Forum, the public garden and the Châtelet–Les Halles station improvements.
Aftermath
The canopy opened in 2016 and the principal construction programme was completed in 2018.
2007
Selection of the Canopée designStrategyBackground
A separate competition was held to replace or substantially remodel the existing Forum and improve its connections with the public realm and station.
Action taken
Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti's proposal, centred on an expansive undulating canopy, was selected.
Aftermath
The design became the architectural basis for the rebuilt Forum and its integration with the gardens and station.
2002
Launch of comprehensive Les Halles renewalStrategyBackground
The original Forum and surrounding public spaces had attracted persistent criticism concerning architecture, circulation and their relationship with historic central Paris.
Action taken
The City of Paris began public consultation and organised design competitions covering the shopping centre, gardens and transport interchange.
Aftermath
The process led to the selection of new designs and ultimately to a large-scale redevelopment beginning in 2010.
Recent events
- 2018
Les Halles redevelopment construction programme completed[1]
Other
Construction covering the Forum, public gardens and station improvements was reported as completed after work that began in 2010.
- 2016
Canopée canopy inaugurated[1]
Product launch
The principal canopy over the renewed Forum was inaugurated in April 2016, marking a major visible stage of the long-running redevelopment.
- 2007
Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti selected for the Forum redesign[1]
Other
Their proposal for a large undulating canopy was selected for the redesign of the Forum des Halles, alongside separate plans for the gardens and the station.
- 2002
Paris begins consultation on the renewal of Les Halles[1]
Other
The City of Paris announced a consultation and redevelopment process for the Forum, gardens and transport connections in response to long-running criticism of the post-1970s complex.
- 1979
Forum des Halles commercial centre opens at the former market site[1]
Other
The Forum des Halles opened on 4 September 1979 as a partially underground commercial and shopping centre connected to the newly developed Châtelet–Les Halles transport complex.
Sources2 sources
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