Foire de Paris
1904 poster
|
|
| Formation | 1904 |
|---|---|
| Type | Fair |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 48°49′55″N 2°17′21″E / 48.831900°N 2.289100°ECoordinates: 48°49′55″N 2°17′21″E / 48.831900°N 2.289100°E |
|
Official language
|
French |
|
Parent organization
|
Comexposium |
| Website | www |
The Foire de Paris (Paris Fair) is a major retail event that has been held annually in Paris since 1904, typically for ten days in April–May. Although mainly showing domestic goods, it offers a varied range of products for the general public. Since 1924 the fair has been held in the Porte de Versailles exhibition center. It is the largest general-purpose fair in Europe.
The concept of the Foire de Paris was aired in 1889 by a jeweler named Gustave Sandoz, but was dropped as preparations began for the Exposition Universelle of 1900. In 1903 an organizing committee was established by the Chambre Syndicale des Jeux et Jouets, and the first fair was opened in March 1904. During World War I (1914–18) the fair was suspended in 1915. In February 1916 the new Minister of Commerce, Étienne Clémentel, suggested reopening the fair. It was held on 1–17 March 1917 on the Esplanade des Invalides, showing only French products. This fair included agricultural machinery for the first time, but also included more than 400 booths devoted to fashion. The fair was again banned in 1918. In 1921 the fair was held on the Champ de Mars and Les Invalides.
The first Salon des Appareils Ménagers (Home Appliances Fair) was held between 18 October 1923 and 4 November 1923 in 5,000 square metres (54,000 sq ft) of the Foire de Paris on the Champ de Mars. The first show was held in a simple hut. In 1923 the Parc des expositions was created at the Porte de Versaille to accommodate the fair and the exhibitions organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. From 1924 the Foire de Paris was hosted in the Porte de Versailles. In 1925 the fair began to include foreign products, showing new openness to international competition. From 1929 the fair has hosted the Concours Lépine, a competition for inventions. In 1929 the fair had 754 foreign exhibitors. President Albert François Lebrun visited the 1934 fair at the Porte de Versailles. During World War II (1939–45) the fair was held in 1940, closing on 10 May 1940 on the day of the great German offensive. It was suspended for the rest of the war.
...
Wikipedia