OK, I know the museum is officially called both the Beaubourg and the Pompidou Center, but my research shows that "Beaubourg is the popular name for the Pompidou". Is that what the locals call it? Any of you real French? In casual conversation would you call the museum the Bourbourg or the Pompidou??

Pardon the typing. That last one was also supposed to be "Beaubourg".

Most of the French I know say Pompidou, so I say that also.

I thought that Pompidou was the name of the whole center, but the art museum was called the Beaubourg. No?

Patrick, let me guess. You're still working on that play Art, right? Did you ever get the Perrier problem worked out?

Having spent a year in grad school in Paris, let me say that no self-respecting Parisian would refer to the place as the Pompidou any more, although I think maybe they once did. Officially Beaubourg (don't pronounce the g) is the name of the modern art museum which is on the fourth floor, but most people use that name for the entire building as well. If I heard someone mention the Pompidou, I'd assume it was a tourist (but to quote Seinfeld, "not that there's anything wrong with that."

I don't think it is officially called the Beaubourg, that is a nickname. I haven't really discussed this with locals much so won't say what I've heard as it would be random (I've heard both).

I really don't think that is the name of the musem, the name of the museum is officially the Musée National d?Art Moderne and the whole center is Le Centre National d?Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou. It is nicknamed Beaubourg because that is the name of that area of Paris -- it used to be a small village as many other parts of Paris were a long time ago, and that specific point was the plateau Beaubourg. There is still a street by that name next to it, of course. If you look at the Centre's web site, I don't think you find the name Beaubourg mentioned anywhere except for the street address.

Yes, Calgirl, I'm still working on Art and this is what it is for. But last night I did some research on Google and mainly to seem to find the phrase "Pompidou Center more commonly known as Beaubourg". Other articles indicate that it is indeed the name of the museum that is specifically Beaubourg, as well as the area of course, as Christina mentions. But I'm still curious what the typical Parisian would say. Would he or she say, "let's meet at the Beaubourg"? or would you hear the phrase, "I went to the new exhibit at the Beaubourg yesterday"? Or would they be more likely to say "the Pompidou"?

Bringing this back to the top for the Parisian who would have been asleep when I posted this last night!

It is my understanding that most locals just call it "a huge, monstrous eyesore." What were they thinking when they approved its design and placement?

Beaubourg is what the locals call it.

In my experience (and after grilling my Parisian BF on the subject), Parisians refer to it as either "Beaubourg" (without the article) or "le centre Pompidou." Beaubourg is used more in casual conversation, also to refer to the general area. They wouldn't call it "le Pompidou" though.
One time, a French friend's mother, when explaining the location of her daughter's apartment, told me that it was "en face de Beaubourg." I replied that I thought she lived opposite the Centre Pompidou - which is when I learned that the two are one and the same!

Thanks, I'm beginning to think more and more the average Parisian would say "Beaubourg" when referring to going to the art museum, rather than saying "Pompidou". I also brought up real estate listings in the general area and noticed a number of them say near to "Beaubourg Museum", but not one says near "Pompidou".

hansikday, you have to admit they came up with a true landmark. My partner who is generally lost in Paris always knows where we are if I simply say "we're real close to the giant ugly building". If I merely said we're near Beaubourg or Pompidou, he wouldn't have a clue.