Abandoned stadiums in France, including Stade Leon-Bollee and Stade des Costieres

France has grown in prominence as a footballing powerhouse on the European stage in recent years, thanks in large part to the success of giants Paris Saint-Germain, but the nation also boasts a lengthy history in the game that has left behind a number of abandoned stadiums.

Some were left to rot, while others were demolished or held in limbo by financial and political disputes, and a small few are set for revitalisation.

France may not have as many cases of venue abandonment as Spain, but there is plenty of history wrapped up in the country's derelict, forgotten and unoccupied venues.

Here, Football Ground Guide takes a look at some of the most significant neglected and abandoned stadiums in France.

Stade des Costieres, Nimes

The case of the Stade des Costieres is one of the most intriguing on this list, given that it involves a dispute between the City of Nimes and former Nimes Olympique club president Rani Assaf.

In July 2019, the city approved the sale of the ground to Assaf, who had plans to demolish it and build a new 15,100-seater venue – dubbed the Stade Nemausus – in its place.

Assaf would later move the team to a temporary home at the Stade des Antonins in 2022, leaving the Costieres empty pending its deconstruction.

However, as the finalisation of a sale dragged on, the Commission Nationale d'Aménagement Commercial (CNAC) made their unfavourable opinion of the proposals known from a commercial perspective, leading the city to refuse a permit for the new stadium.

Assaf sought to appeal the decision, though it was upheld by the courts in 2025, and he subsequently decided to leave Nimes Olympique behind, selling the Antonins to the city so as to ensure the club's stability through to 2032.

In February 2026, the city council abrogated the initial 2019 sale agreement, and the municipality welcomed the press to Stade des Costieres in June, discussing their plans to renovate the ground as a key part of the Nimes' infrastructure.

The Stade des Costieres currently remains derelict, with reports of a destroyed pitch, broken seats and even fig trees growing in the stands, but the future looks bright for the ground considering the interest from local government officials.

Stade Leon-Bollee, Le Mans

Le Mans FC waved goodbye to the 17,801-capacity Stade Leon-Bollee in December 2010, unfortunately losing 1-0 to Vannes in their final outing at the ground before making the switch to the newly-opened MMArena in January 2011.

There were brief discussions about returning to the stadium when the club were struck with an administrative relegation, imposed by the league 2012, but the demotion was legally reversed, and the ground was greenlit for demolition instead.

Local residents had complaints about Stade Leon-Bollee's abandonment, but it was not until 2018 that the future of the site was decided – seven years after Le Mans had left their former home – a housing development project was approved.

That being said, it was not until 2020 that major demolitions began, with the stadium eventually making way for 220 homes and a park.

Stade du Ray, Nice

The Stade du Ray was home to OGC Nice for 86 years between 1927 and 2013, and was the venue that saw the club win all of their major trophies, including four league titles.

Les Aiglons closed out their stay at the ground with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Montpellier, a game that saw the hosts surrender their lead twice in September 2013.

During its three years of abandonment, the Stade du Ray is said to have become a ‘wasteland' in the heart of the city, and the preliminary demolition work that started in autumn 2016 was more than welcome.

The deconstruction finished by the spring of 2018, and over the following two years, the site was redeveloped as the Parc du Ray, which maintains a corner of the stadium's south stand and the original ticket office as symbols of the area's history.

Honourable mention: Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes

Stade Yves-du-Manoir is one of the most significant stadiums in French sporting history, having been the main host venue for the 1924 Olympics, as well as the backdrop for three matches at the 1938 World Cup – including the final that Italy won 4-2 against Hungary.

The ground also served as the home of the French national team, not to mention that it held 42 Coupe de France finals between 1924 and 1971, before being eclipsed by the Parc des Princes, which was rebuilt in 1972.

When Racing 92 Rugby club left the stadium in 2017 for Paris La Defense Arena, Stade Yves-du-Manoir was effectively abandoned.

However, when the historic ground was selected to host hockey at the Paris 2024 Olympics, renovation work totalling more than €100m was greenlit for 2021, adding new facilities while retaining the old-school charm of the complex.

Looking to the future, Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti sold the Paris La Defense Arena to Live Nation, and is set to bring the club back to Colombes for 2027-28.

Three new stands are in the works as part of a plan to transform the Stade Yves-du-Manoir into a 14,000-seater Rugby venue, a decade on from Racing's exit.