It's a return decades in the making. The Perret Tower, closed to the public since 1960, will reopen its doors on July 11, 2026, in the heart of Paul-Mistral Park in Grenoble. Designed in 1925 by Auguste Perret for the International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism, this slender 95-meter structure—80 meters of which are accessible to visitors—is considered the first reinforced concrete skyscraper in Europe. Designated a historical monument in 1998, it underwent a seven-year restoration project under the direction of François Botton, Chief Architect of Historical Monuments. The City of Grenoble, with support from the French State and the Isère Department, will host a festive opening night on July 10, from 17 p.m. to 23 p.m., featuring concerts, a raffle for a sneak preview, and an activity village at the foot of the tower.
An exceptional restoration, balancing respect for the original with contemporary requirements.
“Restoring the Perret Tower wasn’t about making it brand new, but about rediscovering the inherent logic of the work,” explains François Botton. To make the interventions clear, a discreet color code was adopted: light concrete designates the original elements, while the restored sections appear in a darker shade. The principle of the two original elevators was preserved, even though a contemporary metal shaft had to be added. The structure’s fragility stemmed from several factors: water infiltration, corrosion of the internal metal reinforcements, and construction techniques that were experimental for the time. An additional challenge arose: bats and swifts have been nesting in the structure for decades. Artificial roosts were created to allow them to maintain their habits while limiting water infiltration. “We had to close the tower to the public while maintaining access for wildlife,” the architect told RCF Isère.
A two-stage ascent, a 360° view of the Alpine massifs
The visit begins with an elevator ride to the circular platform at 60 meters, the only space with a floor besides the ground floor. Beyond, an increasingly narrow staircase leads to the summit at 80 meters, where the view encompasses the Vercors, Belledonne, and Chartreuse mountain ranges in a 360° panorama. "It's one of the few places where you can see the city in 360 degrees," François Botton told RCF Isère. To ensure visitor comfort, capacity will be limited to 50 people at a time in the tower and 20 on the panoramic platform. One hundred years after its construction, the Perret Tower is finally returning to its original purpose: offering Grenoble residents and visitors a fresh perspective on their city and the mountains that surround it.
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