France football stadiums overview
With PSG’s drastic rise in significance on a European scale in the last decade, the club’s home, Parc des Princes, has grown into an iconic venue, particularly in the Champions League. The stadium is known for its passionate atmosphere and has become a symbol of PSG’s ambitions in European football.
In addition to Parc des Princes, France boasts a variety of noteworthy football stadiums located in different towns and cities, each with its unique footballing culture. Here’s a breakdown of some iconic football stadiums by major towns in France.
Paris
Home to the country’s most successful club, PSG, and the iconic Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Both stadiums help cement Paris as the hub of French football.
- PSG – Parc des Princes
- Saint-Denis – Stade de France
- Red Star FC – Stade Bauer
Lyon
Lyon is a historic city in southeastern France. Olympique Lyonnais is one of the most decorated clubs in French football history.
- Olympique Lyonnais – Groupama Stadium
- AS Lyon-Duchere – Stade Balmon
Marseille
While no longer the top dog in the French league, Marseille is the only French club to win the Champions League. Famous for its rich history and loyal fan base, Marseille is one of the icons of French football.
- Olympique de Marseille – Stade Velodrome
- Athletico Marseille – Stade La Martine
AS Monaco
While based in the tiny principality of Monaco, they have become one of the most important members of the French league. Notable for being the club to bring the world Kylian Mbappe, the club has been stuck as a selling club for decades.
AS Monaco – Stade Louis II
Nice
OGC Nice represents the vibrant city of Nice on the French Riviera. Nice have won the French League four times, though they’ve not done so in recent years. The Allianz Riviera is also one of the iconic venues in the Allianz stadium family.
- OGC Nice – Allianz Riviera
Lille
Lille, near the Belgian border, is a city of culture and football. It is home to LOSC Lille, the only side to break up PSG’s recent dominance in the French League, securing the title in the 2020-21 season.
- LOSC Lille – Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Lens
In France, Lens is a small town near the border with Belgium. In football terms, the city is famous for its passionate fan base, which is among the most loyal in all of Europe.
- RC Lens – Stade Bollaert-Delelis
What are French stadiums like?
French football stadiums reflect the country’s rich heritage of the sport, where passion and artistry blend on and off the pitch. They are also known for their iconic atmosphere, with fans and ultra groups a league staple.
While the league does feature several older grounds, many of the top stadiums in France are fairly modern. Stade de France, Velodrome, Lyon Park, and Matmut Atlantic were all built in the past two decades. Some expectations, such as the Parc des Princes, Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, and Bollaert-Deleis Stadium, are much older.
Key stats
Biggest Stadiums in France
It won’t be surprising to find out the largest capacity stadiums in France are in the league’s top flight. The Stade de France, which acts as France’s national stadium, holds the crown. The stadium is one of the largest stadiums in Europe.
Stade de France (Saint-Denis) – 81,500
Stade Velodrome (Marseille) – 67,394
Groupama Stadium (Lyon) – 59,286
Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Lille) – 50,186
Parc des Princes (Paris) – 48,712
Oldest Stadiums in France
- Stade de la Meinau (Strasbourg) – Opened in 1906
- Parc des Princes (Paris) – Opened in 1897 (redeveloped in 1972)
- Stade Bauer (Saint-Ouen) – Opened in 1909
- Stade Velodrome (Marseille) – Opened in 1937
- Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne) – Opened in 1931
New stadiums that are being built
Several renovation and construction projects are underway or planned in France:
Stade de la Meinau (Strasbourg): Currently undergoing a significant renovation and expansion, expected to be completed in 2026.
Success in Europe for French Clubs
Olympique de Marseille: The only French club to win the UEFA Champions League, Doing so in 1993. They also made the final in 1991.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG): Winners of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 and runners-up in the Champions League in 2020.
AS Monaco: Reached the Champions League final in 2004 and have made several deep runs in European competitions.
Stade de Reims: While their success predates the 50-year window, they are remembered for their legacy in the early European Cup.