PARIS – Tourists and French visitors alike filled Paris’ landmark Pompidou museum on the weekend to catch a last glimpse of its prestigious art collection ahead of a five-year closure for a major renovation.

“Five years – it’s long,” said guide Elisa Hervelin, as people around her took photos of many of the museum’s permanent works, among them paintings by Spanish artist Salvador Dali and Frenchman Henri Matisse and sculptures by French artist Marcel Duchamp.

The 2,000-piece collection, on display on the fourth and fifth floors on the 48-year-old multicultural centre, was being taken away starting on March 10.

The artworks are to be given temporary homes in museums across France and in other countries while the lengthy overhaul of the building – famously designed with its pipes and ventilation shafts colourfully adorning its facade – is carried out.

The full closure of the Pompidou Centre – which also comprises a vast library and a music research unit – will occur on Sept 22. The €262 million (S$377.8 million) renovations include removing asbestos from the structure.

With free entrance for its last weekend, visitors made the most of a last swing through the galleries, taking in the art as well as workshops, performances and DJ sets put on for the occasion.

Some were regulars to the museum, while others were seeing its collection in person for the first time.

Alyssa, an 11-year-old French girl taking it all in with her 62-year-old grandfather, wanted to &l...