The Palais de la Musique et des Congrès: a unique events complex

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Are you soon going to the Strasbourg Convention Center for a concert, a conference, or a special event? Do you want to know more about this iconic place? Discover in this article the history of this unique complex, a hub of meetings in the heart of Strasbourg!

The history of the Strasbourg Music and Convention Center

The Strasbourg Music and Convention Center (PMC) is a true symbol in the heart of the city of Strasbourg. It is located within the Wacken district, very close to the European Parliament, in a 7-hectare green setting.

Since its inauguration in 1974, it has acquired a prominent place in the Strasbourg landscape as a major venue for meetings, congresses, and cultural events. It is the preferred destination for professional events and the general public.

It all began with the architect Le Corbusier, requested to design the Convention Center. However, his death in 1965 prematurely interrupted the development of his project. In 1971, the responsibility for the project was therefore entrusted to the municipal architecture department. The work, combining glass and concrete, was launched in 1973. The inauguration finally took place in 1975 following unforeseen events, requiring renovations.

However, a need for renewal and modernity persisted. In 2011, a major competition was organized to give new life to the Convention Center. The architectural firms Dietrich-Untertrifaller and Rey Lucquet & associés took charge of the expansion and modernization of the site in 2013. The complex, brought up to date and up to standard, was delivered in the summer of 2016.

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In addition to a new extension, the building is given a contemporary facade in pleated aluminum. This design combines glass architecture, rooms bathed in natural light, and a panoramic view of the surrounding park.

A hub for economic and cultural meetings

The Strasbourg Music and Convention Center is a unique event complex in Europe. It stands out for its innovative environment in technological, architectural, and environmental terms. The site consists of three auditoriums, each meeting the needs of different types of events.

The Erasmus Hall, the largest, can accommodate up to 1,876 spectators in exceptional comfort and acoustic conditions. The Schweitzer Hall is suitable for comedy or theater performances. It has a capacity of 1,182 seats. As for the Cassin Hall, it can accommodate 515 spectators in an intimate atmosphere, an ideal space for smaller events. These 3 performance halls have been modernized and offer stage flexibility to adapt to various performances.

In addition to the auditoriums, the PMC has more than twenty commission rooms with a capacity ranging from 20 to 440 people (Schuman room, Marie Curie, Étoile, Hall Rhin, etc.). Moreover, with 10,000 m² of exhibition space, several catering areas and 24,000 m² of additional space adjacent to the Exhibition Park, the PMC is a prime location for economic, institutional, or cultural events.

Since its renovation in 2016, this versatile complex is able to divide its spaces according to needs. It can simultaneously accommodate up to 3 different congresses, thus consolidating Strasbourg's place as an international city for conferences and congresses.

A crossroads of economic and cultural events

Since its creation, the Strasbourg Convention Center has been the scene of numerous events, fairs, conventions, conferences, shows and concerts. Strasbourg has become the epicenter of economic and cultural events. The city welcomes national and international visitors, which boosts the tourism industry.

Strasbourg Évènements, the organization in charge of managing the PMC, offers turnkey solutions to meet the needs of event organizers: from the design of stands to technical coordination, including logistical services and high-quality catering thanks to partnerships with the best local caterers.

Since 1974, the Palace has hosted many internationally renowned shows and artists. Ray Charles, Charles Aznavour, Chevallier and Laspalès or Véronic Dicaire have performed on the PMC stages. In addition, great classics such as Dirty Dancing, the opera The Magic Flute, and ballets such as The Nutcracker have been performed in this exceptional cultural space.

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The three auditoriums of the Palais des Congrès et de la Musique offer a rich and varied cultural program throughout the year. More than 250 events per year are scheduled in this dynamic place.

Practical information for getting to the Strasbourg Convention Center

The Strasbourg Convention Center is ideally located Place Bordeaux-Wacken. Easy to access, it is well served by public transport.

By train, from Strasbourg Central Station, the Convention Center is easily accessible. Take a tram, lines B and E will take you there.

By car, the A35 (Paris-Lyon) and A4 (Grand Est) motorways allow you to reach the city. Connections to Benelux and German motorways via the Pont de l'Europe are only 10 minutes from the Convention Center.

A parking lot with 250 free spaces is available on site, as well as a relay parking lot with 570 spaces nearby.

Also, a bicycle path leads you directly to the Convention Center. Vélhop self-service rental services are available at the station and in the city center.

The Convention Center is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

To find out about upcoming events, consult the calendar on the PMC website.

After a busy day at the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, we invite you to extend your experience by staying at our B&B HOTEL Strasbourg Nord Schiltigheim. Our establishment, comfortable and at a low price, is located very close to the complex!