La Défense, Paris

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Although very modern, La Grande Arche in La Defense cannot be other then impressive.

The construction to this immense arch began in 1955 and is still developing.

Made of glass and white Carrara marble the arch is actually a huge cube (110m) in which the Notre-Dame Cathedral can fit easily.

The arch is housing offices of French government and international companies, but also galleries, a library and a restaurant.

From the top terrace a magnificent view of Paris can be admired.

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Although I'm not a big fan of modern architecture, I have to admit that I really liked La Defense.

In a huge contrast to the old historical part of Paris, I had the impression of being in another world, in other time. Or better in Besson's "The 5th element"...

Wearing the name of a monument commemorating the defense of Paris of 1871, La Defense is divided in 11 zones, with business offices, parks, sport facilities, a botanical garden and an open-air gallery.

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During my second week in Paris, I've met Carol, a charming parissine who organized a small VT meet, her, myself, an american newly wed couple and Carol's friend formerly US-based, now Paris-based (sorry Carol dear that I've forgotten the name). Our destination - La Defense!

I think I've mentioned that I loved how it is being pronounced with that stuffy-nose French accent on the "fense" part (fons).

We started some walking along the Seine river going to the Concorde. NO! we did not walk from Concorde to La Defense, silly! So walking along rows of centuries old buildings, we took the almost an hour bus ride to La Defense. We got so busy inside the bus watching and listening to our friend Carol giving endless directions to a somewhat obstinate lost tourist.

Believe me, it's a different kind of experience. It's like being swept forth in time - from old environs to some kind of futuristic backdrop. You wouldn't even notice it, until you come out of the escalator leading to the "Grand Arch".

Going up the escalator, the imposing and massive Grand Arche de la Defense will greet you. It is the 20th century version of the Arch De Triomphe. The Grand Arche is a business centre, music and arts exhibitions, and dining experience. And yes, you can take the elevator up the tower to see the whole ground below and the fabulous view of the city centre.

Most of the buildings around the Arche are tall & massive modern office buildings. The sight of the camouflage-painted buildings looks to me like it were renovated war-era edifices.

After the construction of La Défense the people of Paris complained about the large amount of high, concrete buildings and wanted to have a nicer sight from the top of the Arc the Troimphe. From here you can see La Défense very good. The former president Mitterand thought out the solution. He wanted a 20th century Arc de Triomphe as a gateway to La Défense. The idea of a Grande Arche was born.

The Danish designer Otto van Spreckelsen drew a cube-shaped arch with a height of 106 meters. The vertical parts of the arch contain offices. The top floor is a exhibition area, that is accesible by a glass lift. At the top you have a nice view over La Défense and at the centre, that is 4 km´s away.

The Grande Arche is the third Arch in the line, starting in the centre of the Louvre with the Arc de Triomphe du Carroussel, going all the way over the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées towards the Arc de Triomphe and then over the Rue de la Grande Armée all the way towards La Défense. A straight line of more then 7 kilometres.

At the end of WW I the idea was thought out to develop the line on which the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomph stand on. There had to come a Triumphal Way all the way from the city centre to the La Défense area. Here had to come the impressive endpoint of the line.

The name La Défense originally comes from a monument called `La Défense de Paris´ that was erected in this area at the end of the war of 1870.

In 1951 there was made the decision that La Défense had to be a business centre. All original plans of low buildings or buildings of same sizes were thrown away. Companies wanted to build higher towers and wanted to be different from eachother. That resulted in the 200 meters high GAN-tower and a lot more concrete monsters.

Today La Défense is a nice environment to check out modern architecture. The further you go towards the back of La Défense (towards la Grande Arche) the better the building become. And the quarter is also a nice site to see modern art. Lots of small and huge statues are placed here, and give a nice colourfull contrast towards the office buildings.

If you intended to go go to La Défense, if you like modern architecture, don't bother paying to go to the top of the Arch, as this is a business area with high towers which really block the view to paris, so not interesting to pay and only see the Arch of Triumph from up there, and nothing else...

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The Grande Arche, completed in 1989, is the most striking structure in la Defense. You cannot miss this new landmark ! The cube-like Grande Arche measures 110M along each side. The Notre Dame fits in its open central part.

The Grande Arche, designed by the Danish architect von Sprekelsen, is made of granite, marble and a lot of glass all around. It houses all kind of business and governmental offices. At the inside of the structure you can see the transparent elevators. You can go up to the 35th floor. I will do this the next time.

This site is amazing: a downtown with all the traffic arteries hidden underneath. This oasis of modern architecture and calm is so ingeneously designed and so well executed that it has to be an eighth wonder of the world.

This picture shows the end of the Avenue of Gran Armee that connects the Le Defense with the Triumph Arch and Champs Elysees.