Stade Charléty, also called stade Sébastien-Charléty, is a multi-sport complex in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, between boulevard Kellermann and boulevard périphérique near porte de Gentilly. In its current form, the site includes a stadium with seating capacity, a training field, the Pierre Charpy multi-sports hall, specialized rooms, and tennis and squash courts. It also houses the Maison du sport français, including the offices of the Comité national olympique et sportif français and the Fédération française d’athlétisme.
The stadium’s first form was inaugurated in 1939 and was designed by architect Bernard Zehrfuss. It is named after Sébastien Charléty, rector of the University of Paris from 1867 to 1945. The site became linked to Paris Université Club, its historic resident club, after the club was assigned the location in 1937. Stade Charléty later hosted major sports events, including the Paris University Games in 1957, and remained a venue for amateur and professional sports. From 2007 to 2025, it is the residence of Paris Football Club.
Nearby Objects
-
Parc Montsouris 750 m away -
Place d'Italie 1800 m away -
Cimetière de Montrouge 2000 m away
Stade CharlEty as a Multi-Sport Complex
Stade CharlEty, also called Stade Sebastien-CharlEty, is a multi-sport complex in Paris. It is located in the 13th arrondissement, between boulevard Kellermann and boulevard peripherique near porte de Gentilly. The complex includes a stadium with seating capacity, a training field, the Pierre Charpy multi-sports hall, specialized rooms, and tennis and squash courts. It also houses the Maison du sport francais, which contains the offices of the Comite national olympique et sportif francais and the Federation francaise d'athletisme. The site was inaugurated in its first form in 1939. Its historic resident club is Paris universite club, and it served as the home of Paris Football Club from 2007 to 2025, before the club's planned move to Stade Jean Bouin after the 2024-2025 Ligue 2 season.
History of Stade Charlaty
The site that became Stade Charlaty was assigned to Paris Universite Club in 1937, after the club had been expelled in 1929 from Stade de la Porte Doree and moved to Stade Pershing in Bois de Vincennes. The first version of the stadium was built by architect Bernard Zehrfuss and inaugurated in 1939. It was named after Sebastien Charlaty, rector of the University of Paris from 1867 to 1945. Construction continued during the war, and the site was the first in Paris liberated by a squadron of Leclerc's armored division. After peace was restored, wooden stands, locker rooms, and a club-house were added.
Stade Charlaty hosted its first major sports event with the Paris University Games in 1957. It later became associated with notable athletic performances, including Michel Jazy's 1500 m world record in 1962, Jose Marajo's French record in 1980, and Philippe Houvion's pole vault world record of 5.77 m in 1980. The stadium also hosted the Union Nationale des Etudiants de France meeting on May 13, 1968 during the May 68 events, attended by Pierre Mendes France. Throughout this period, it continued to host amateur and professional sports events as well as PUC club activities.
In the mid-1980s, the central field was closed because of virus-contaminated soil. Although the contaminated soil was removed to a depth of more than one meter, it was not replaced because of the high cost. The stadium was reduced to an athletics stadium and deteriorated slowly. The stands were demolished in late 1989 because of safety concerns linked to decay. A new stadium was then designed by Henri Gaudin and Bruno Gaudin starting in 1991 for 790 million francs, and it was inaugurated in 1994 during the Grand Prix IAAF final. The architects received the Prix de l'Equerre d'argent for the new stadium in 1994.
Sports institutions and major events at Charlaty
The Charlaty sports complex contains several important sports institutions. It houses Paris Volley in the Pierre Charpy hall, and Paris Volley itself originated from the volleyball section of the PUC before becoming a multiple French champion. The complex also includes the headquarters of the French Athletics Federation, the National Olympic and Sports Committee of France, and the PUC. In this setting, Charlaty has combined competition, administration, and club activity within the same site.
The stadium has also been linked to a number of notable sporting and media events. At the Grand Prix final in 2002, Tim Montgomery set a 100 m world record of 9.78 seconds, a mark later made controversial by the Balco doping scandal. In 2006, Charlaty served as a giant screen broadcast site during the FIFA World Cup in Germany, showing all seven France team matches and attracting large audiences in Paris. That same year, it was also used for filming Jean-Philippe by Laurent Tuel.
Charlaty continued to play a role in athletics and urban transport in the following years. Tramway line 3, which serves the stadium, began operation in 2006 and became line 3a in 2012. The stadium was selected to host the 2020 European Athletics Championships, and its athletics track was renovated with a new blue surface certified by IAAF. The championships were later cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the renovation debate, the Paris city council initially hesitated because of the extent of the work and the importance of the track, while Bernard Comment, president of the PUC, opposed the renovation and the removal of the athletics track.
Major Sporting Events at Stade Charle9ty
Stade Charle9ty has hosted a wide range of major football and rugby fixtures, including both domestic club matches and international games. In women's football, it served as a home venue for the France women's national football team, including a 3-0 win against China and a 6-0 victory over Albania in Euro 2017 qualification.
The stadium has also been an important site for Paris FC. It hosted a 1-1 first-round Ligue 1 playoff match against RC Lens, which Lens won on penalties, as well as a Coupe de France round of 16 match against Olympique Lyonnais that drew over 10,000 spectators. Other notable Paris FC matches at the venue included a Ligue 2 derby win over Red Star by 4-1 in front of 17,748 spectators and a final Ligue 2 match against AC Ajaccio, won 2-0 before 18,219 spectators. One match at the stadium was stopped because of spectator disorder, resulting in a loss for Paris FC and Olympique Lyonnais and fines for both clubs.
Rugby events have also formed a significant part of the stadium's use. It hosted a friendly between Mali and Ghana that ended 1-1, a Paris Saint-Germain Rugby League match against Sheffield Eagles Rugby won 30-24 by PSG, and the Coupe de France rugby union final between Stade Toulousain and Stade Francais, which Toulouse won 22-15 in front of 22,500 spectators. International rugby league matches at the stadium included France against Papua New Guinea in the Rugby League World Cup and France's 4-42 loss to Australia in the Four Nations tournament.
Stade Charle9ty also served as a home ground for Stade Francais rugby union during the demolition and reconstruction of Stade Jean-Bouin, and this arrangement ended when the club moved back to the new Stade Jean-Bouin at the start of the 2013-2014 season.
Major Events at Stade CharlEty
Stade CharlEty has been the setting for a wide range of major sporting and public events. It hosted the 19th European Athletics Team Championships, where Germany won the competition, and also the first edition of DeCaNation, organized by the French Athletics Federation and won by Russia. In 2017, the stadium became the venue for the Meeting de Paris of the Diamond League, which moved there from Stade de France because of a cost issue. That same year, it hosted the Handisport Open Paris, organized by the French Handisport Federation and part of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
The stadium was also scheduled to host the 2020 European Athletics Championships, but the event was cancelled because of Covid-19, marking the first cancellation since 1942. In 2023, Stade CharlEty hosted the World Para Athletics Championships PARIS'23 from August 8 to 17, with 1,700 athletes from 120 nations competing over 10 days. Other athletic and field sports events have also taken place there, including the return of baseball for two days on September 9 and 10 after 30 years, with baseball, softball, and cricket featured, as well as a night match in which PUC defeated the Thiais club.
Beyond athletics, Stade CharlEty has hosted the Casque de diamant final of French American football, where Flash de La Courneuve defeated Black Panthers de Thonon 21 to 6 before more than 4,000 spectators, a record for a D1 Elite final. The stadium has also served as a venue for public gatherings and cultural events, including a concert-meeting by Ségolene Royal on May 1, 2007, described as the largest meeting organized by the left and Socialist Party, with 20,000 to 30,000 attendees. The location had been chosen after a previous student and left-wing rally had drawn 30,000 to 50,000 people. In 2022, the Carnival Tropical was held there due to the health crisis, and the stadium also hosted an Archery World Cup stage, which was renewed in 2022.
Resident Clubs and Sporting Use
Stade Charlaty has served as a venue for a range of resident clubs and sporting events. Paris Saint-Germain Rugby League and the Paris Saint-Germain womens football team both used the stadium as a resident ground, and Stade francais rugby team played there during the reconstruction of Jean-Bouin stadium from 2010 to 2013. The stadium also hosted athletic meetings, including DecaNation, as well as international rugby matches.
In 2006, resident clubs abandoned activity at Charlaty because of difficulty maintaining their operations, and the stadium was taken over by Paris city hall the same year. Paris FC then became the stadiums resident club from summer 2007. During the 2010s, its managers aimed to help Paris FC reach Ligue 1, but the club later moved to Dejerine stadium because of cost and low attendance at Charlaty. After Paris FC was promoted to Ligue 2, the club returned to Charlaty because Dejerine stadium did not meet standards. Paris FC women also played some matches there after the 2017 absorption of Football Club Feminine Juvisy Essonne, alternating between Charlaty and Robert-Bobin stadium in Bondoufle. Paris FC left Charlaty for Jean-Bouin stadium in 2025.
Since 2012, Paris Volley has been resident in Pierre Charpy hall of Stade Charlaty. The club won nine French championships between 2000 and 2016, as well as four French cups, one European Supercup, and one Champions League. Charlaty has also been used by Paris 13 Atletico for some matches in the 2022-2023 season during works at Stade Boutroux.
Architecture and Media Use
Stade Charlty has been used for purposes that extend well beyond athletics, with its architecture playing an important role in photography, fashion, film, television, and advertising. Its architectural decor has inspired many brands in the photographic field, while its modern sports spaces have also been adapted for non-sporting uses. The stadium is considered a key location in fashion, and Dazed selected it to align its artistic style with a sporting and playful setting. Nike and Adidas used the site for photo shoots and seminars linked to product launches.
The stadium is also frequently used for audiovisual production. Its architecture makes it suitable for filming films, series, and advertisements, and its older architectural elements are described as a decor asset for films with varied themes. More than 300 different television productions have been filmed there, and it has hosted productions in audiovisual, television channel, and filmography domains. For events and receptions, the stadium offers six lounges, each with distinct furnishings and decor.
Public transport access
Stade CharlEty is served by RER line B at Cite universitaire and Gentilly stations. It is also served by tramway line 3a at Cite universitaire, Stade CharlEty, and Poterne des Peupliers stations. Several metro stations are within about 20 minutes' walking distance: line 4 at Porte d'Orleans, line 7 at Maison Blanche and Porte d'Italie, and line 14 at Maison Blanche and Hopital Bicetre. Access to the last station in Kremlin-Bicetre requires a 1 km walk through Gentilly.