Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Myles Tweedie

Script:

:01
It's one of the French capital's most famous buildings - its facade unmistakable.  

And with 3.2 million visitors last year -- The Centre Pompidou is one of Paris' most visited museums. 

But now, the centre is getting set for a five-year break.

:18 (( Archive ))
Opened in 1977, it is named after Georges Pompidou, France's president between 1969 and 1974. 

And after so many years -- the facility is in bad need of repairs. 

Plus, the 262-million-euro facelift includes the removal of asbestos from the site.

((Tilmans exhibition))
But before it shuts its doors - there's time for one more exhibition. 

:36
A retrospective from one of Germany's most famous photographers Wolfgang Tillmans.

While some came for Tilman's work, others came here trying to avoid Paris' peak tourist season crowds.

+++ VOX (English) Candida Cave, artist, playwright and art historian visiting from London, UK:
(On what brought her here)
“We had thought of going to Notre Dame to see the restoration; the queues are horrible, so we didn’t go. We thought of going to Sainte Chapelle because the stained glass is so lovely. We saw the queues, decided not to. We came here, it was wonderful, just walking in.

1:06
Others were just surprised by how few people there were.

+++ VOX (English) Mireille Commaux, Paris resident:
(On what brought her here)
“I wanted to have a view before it closes in September, but I'm quite surprised. I thought there will be more people here.

So a visit to Pompidou could be Paris' best kept summer secret. 

And at least if you can't make it there before the centre closes on September 22nd - then 2030 is not all that far away.

END