The countdown to the World Butchers’ Challenge (WBC) has officially begun, with the culinary capital of Paris, France chosen to host the hotly anticipated event in March 2025. Trading barbells for beef come 2025, the WBC - officially hosted by Confédération Française de la Boucherie (CFBCT) - will run from 30-31 March with winners of the revered Friedr. Dick Golden Knife Trophy announced at a black-tie Gala dinner on 1 April.

The World Butchers’ Challenge along with the World Champion Butcher Apprentice Competition will be held in an iconic venue in the capital: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

What is Paris Expo Porte de Versailles?

It's a venue that hosts over 7.5 million visitors and 200 events each year. This symbolic location has hosted the International Agricultural Show for many years, bringing in over 600,000 people in 2024. It was also one of the sites for the recent 2024 Olympic Games.

With a 212,545 m² exhibition space, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is a premier site. Arena 6, where the WBC will take place, covers an area of 15,000 m².

You can take a virtual tour of the venue by visiting: https://www.viparis.com/nos-lieux/paris-expo-porte-de-versailles/espaces.

What to do around this iconic venue?

First, you can easily reach the Eiffel Tower by taking metro line 12, then line 6, and getting off at Trocadéro – the trip takes about 20 minutes. If you continue for five more stops on the same line and get off at Charles De Gaulle Etoile, you’ll find yourself at the top of the Champs-Élysées, with the Arc de Triomphe.

It takes roughly the same amount of time to reach Notre-Dame Cathedral by taking line 12 from Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, then switching to line 4 and getting off at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. These are three iconic sites in Paris you won’t want to miss!

Where to eat?

Around Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, you'll find numerous dining options, as well as some within the site itself, including an Italian restaurant and various takeaway options. You can also enjoy restaurants in nearby hotels where you may be staying, like Mama Shelter and Eklo.

Here are a few additional recommendations:

- Head to Le Verre Galant - Porte de Versailles, located at 256 Rue de la Croix Nivert, just a 10-minute walk from the WBC venue, for lunch or dinner.

- Another great choice is 750g La Table, a classic French brasserie offering traditional French dishes and wines, located at 397 Rue de Vaugirard.

- For a meal with a view of the Eiffel Tower, check out French Kiss Restaurant, located at 1 Rue du Moulin, a 14-minute walk away.