La Défense is a major European business center and residential area located in the western suburbs of Paris. There are more than one and a half thousand firms, companies, banks, offices and headquarters here. This “quarter of the twenty-first century” impresses tourists with high-rise buildings of various types. geometric shapes, avant-garde sculptures and large shopping centers creating a high-tech atmosphere. The history of the interesting La Défense quarter begins with [...]
La Défense is a major European business center and residential area located in the western suburbs of Paris. There are more than one and a half thousand firms, companies, banks, offices and headquarters here. This “quarter of the twenty-first century” impresses tourists with high-rise buildings of various geometric shapes, avant-garde sculptures and large shopping centers that create a high-tech atmosphere.
History of an interesting quarter Defense begins in the middle of the last century, when the first business centers and residential areas appeared in this place. Famous French and world sculptors, architects and engineers participated in the implementation of the original project. The name of the quarter comes from the bronze statue of soldiers installed here.
Be sure to pay attention to the main attraction of La Defense - Large Arch of Defense, which reflects the famous Arc de Triomphe. This stunning cube-shaped structure is filled with many offices, but at the top there is an observation deck with expansive panoramic views of Paris and the exhibition hall. Nearby there is a twelve-meter bronze sculpture “ Finger» Cesar Baldaccini.
This wonderful quarter is home to many skyscrapers, the most impressive of which is the Total 190 meters high. Next to it you will see an elegant tower Arevu, made in black tones. The tower completes the record trio of skyscrapers Gunn in the shape of a Greek cross.
There is a huge pedestrian area in the area, providing for pleasant walks. At night, the illuminations are always lit here - an impressive light show.
La Défense, 92800 Puteaux, France
Take the M1 metro to La Défense station
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Defense (France) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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La Défense is the French equivalent of Manhattan, located slightly on the outskirts of Paris. This modern area consists entirely of office and retail buildings, and the idea of its creation belonged to President Charles de Gaulle. Development of the area began in 1955 and lasted more than 30 years.
Today La Défense is considered the largest business center in all of Europe. More than 150,000 employees flock here every weekday morning. Therefore, for tourists, the best time to visit the area is considered to be the first half of the day, but not earlier than 9 am (so that the flow of office plankton subsides).
First of all, you should get to observation deck The Great Arch (it's really big; Notre Dame could easily be built into its frame). For 15 EUR, an elevator will instantly take an inquisitive tourist upstairs. The site offers a beautiful view of the entire business district. The black skyscraper immediately catches your eye. No, this is not an evil corporation, as it might seem. This is the building of the Fiat automobile concern, decorated with black African granite.
In the Défense quarter there is a wonderful car museum with a lot of interesting exhibits, a huge shopping mall"Seasons", a pedestrian area dotted with fountains, and more than fifty abstract sculptures. In general, just have time to open your mouth.
You can get to La Défense by metro (line 1), getting off at the station of the same name, or by using the RER high-speed transport (analogous to the above-ground metro).
Prices on the page are as of November 2018.
But the capital of love and fashion is beautiful not only in reflections of the past. The modern district of La Défense, called Parisian Manhattan, looks great against the backdrop of historical monuments.
In memory of the heroes of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), where the business zone of the capital is now located, the monument “Defense of Paris” was erected in 1883, and in French it sounds like La Defense de Paris. The name of the memorial is also consonant with the name of the area, which we are more accustomed to pronounce as La Défense.
This statue still stands on the main square of the quarter, but don’t look for something big and impressive. This is a relatively small sculptural composition by Louis-Ernest Barrias, made in bronze.
Whatever one may say, even the modern part of the city is firmly rooted in the past. It all started under Louis XV, whose reign was the longest. Although by the end of the 18th century there were clear signs of decline and discontent in the country, under the king the Rococo era and French culture in general flourished.
It was under him that the historical axis of Paris was laid out, starting from the Louvre, passing along the Champs Elysees, and resting on the hill of the Song of the Roosters (Chantecoq). Where a windmill once creaked in the wind with its wooden blades, now the Great Arch, also called Défense, plays with reflections on the glass.
The first thoughts about improving the new region appeared in 1930. As usual, a competition was announced, and projects poured in from many famous and novice architects.
Everyone wanted to see the renovated city tall and impressive, and therefore almost everyone proposed building skyscrapers in the Art Nouveau style, taking the giants Empire State Building or Chrysler Building as a model.
After studying the proposed plans, the commission announced additional conditions according to which the buildings on both sides of the Triumphal Way should not exceed the average buildings in the city. Since it is not for nothing that Paris is called five-story, its houses did not exceed 5-7 floors. But the idea of skyscrapers itself was not discarded - they were decided to be located at the very extreme point of the La Défense district, preserving the familiar image of the capital without compromising innovative experiments.
However, times Great Depression left their mark - there was less and less capital, there was nothing to finance the project, and it had to be curtailed until better times.
The dream of modernization never died, and after World War II, in 1951, the idea of building a business district came to life again. The pioneer high-rise appeared on the hill in 1958, along with the exhibition hall of the National Center of Industry and Technology.
The 11-storey building can hardly be called a skyscraper, but for the former Paris this became a courage. The Esso Tower did not survive - it was demolished in 1993 to build the more luxurious Ceur Defense towers (Heart of Defense).
By 1963, the total office area was already 800,000 square meters. m, but the area continued to be built up, gaining momentum and power, becoming more and more beautiful, and the architecture of the buildings more and more bold.
In 1964, an approved plan for the development of La Défense in Paris appeared, according to which it was planned to build 20 high-rise buildings with 25 floors. The first one grew a year later - Tour Nobel, but in 1988 it was rebuilt into Tour Initiale.
The emergence of incomprehensible and alien buildings to the city caused mass indignation and complaints that the city was losing its authenticity and romantic aura. Allegedly, skyscrapers are unusual for the city and violate its harmonious features. But remember Guy de Maupassant, who hated the Eiffel Tower so much that he began to visit its restaurant only because the tower itself could not be seen from it. As time has shown, people have gotten used to the new quarter, love it, and can no longer imagine the city without the mirror shine of the facades, in which everything is repeated.
Buildings are usually divided into three generations. The first occurs in the decade between 1958-68, when houses did not rise above 100 meters and were made of monolithic concrete. Since the 70s, they have acquired more refined contours and grown upward, these are: Aurore and Esso, Aquitaine, Nobel and Europe. Back in 1970, a suburban railway line appeared, connecting the quarter with the Arc de Triomphe and "Auber" stops, located near the opera.
In 1972, another wave of disturbances broke out. Parisians were tired of watching the silhouette of the Champs Elysees change and demanded that further work be stopped. The development process was suspended for two reasons - the oil crisis of 1973, and the desire of Prime Minister Giscard d'Estaing to become president, and therefore please voters. The lull lasted until 1978, after which development resumed with renewed vigor.
The third generation dates back to the 80s, and during this period “Seasons” appeared - a shopping center, the largest in Europe. In 1982, the “Face of Defense” tender was held, in which the Danish architect Johan Otto von Sprechelsen proposed his design for the Great Arch. Its construction began in 1983 and was completed in 1989. Now this building is united in one line with two other arches, and is a monument to innovative art.
The emergence of new technologies stimulates bold fresh ideas. For the period 2006-2015, the chairman of EPAD (public agency for defense planning) Bernard Bled presented a new development plan. According to his idea, in 9 years they would have time to restore the houses of previous years, erect 4 new skyscrapers more than 300 meters high, and build 100,00 sq. meters of living space and 850,00 sq. meter office.
At first, everything went according to schedule, and by 2008 they managed to complete Tour Granite and Tour T1, but later adjustments appeared in the plans. The Tour Signal and Tour Generali skyscrapers, which were supposed to appear by 2015, decided not to build, and the Tour Phare was postponed to 2016, reduced to 296 meters. The last building of the project will be Hermitage Plaza, whose construction has also been postponed to 2020.
Particularly noteworthy is the Great Arch, which has become part of the historical axis of the city. 484 projects from representatives of different countries were submitted to the competition, but preference was given to the Dane Sprechelsen. His arc did not praise military exploits, but was a laconic embodiment of modern views on the art of the 20th century.
The representative of the commission had the opportunity to cross the river in a boat to get to a secluded country house, in which Otto lived without any means of communication to report that his idea had won the competition.
Unfortunately, Sprechelsen died shortly after the start of work, but in 1986, before retiring, he handed over all the documentation to his French colleague Paul Andre, and he continued construction.
The construction of the Defense Arch lasted 6 years (1983-1989), and the last day of its construction coincided with the centenary Eiffel Tower, A Grand opening was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.
The arch is a hypercube in a three-dimensional dimension, has a height of 110 m, a depth of 108 m, and a width of 112 m, and the central void can accommodate the entire Notre Dame Cathedral.
The design took kilometers of cables, tons of concrete, hectares of white Carrara marble and special glass 5 cm thick, which prevents optical distortion and can withstand heavy loads. The elevator, which takes you to the hall for presenting exhibitions and organizing meetings, as well as to the observation deck, is also made of glass, allowing you to admire the panorama during the ascent.
Placed under the vault unusual design, simulating free floating, something like a cloud.
Although the La Défense quarter completes the historical axis, it violates the ideal line, being at an angle of 6.5 degrees to it. A similar technique had to be resorted to in order for the base of the structure to be held firmly in the ground, and because of the commuter trains, expressway and metro stations laid underneath it. In addition, a small turn helps to better assess the volumetric depth of the arch.
If you climb to the upper platform, on one side you have a view of the historical part of the city, where the central axis connects the Grand Arch with the Triumphal Arch. It is quite symbolic and even touching to look at memorable places from the heights of an improved world: Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, the Champs Elysees and the Tuileries, the Montparnasse Tower and the Eiffel. There are no houses on the other side - only forest.
To save visitors from the need to resist the strong wind that blows along the upper platform with might and main, it was found non-standard solution. Glass panels were placed in the middle of the arch, forming a kind of winding corridor from them, and in order to get to the opposite side of the structure, you will have to go through it.
The building has not only aesthetic value, but also practical use. Its side walls are given over to office space, which occupies 87,000 sq. m. meters.
At the top you will make some pleasant discoveries, for example, there is a restaurant called “O 110”. To get into it, you need to book a table, given that the establishment’s opening hours are quite limited: 11:30 – 14:30. But the cafe is open longer: 10:00 – 19:00. A nice addition is free wi-fi and access to computers. But Parisians feel great just sitting on the steps of the arch, admiring the sunset, drinking drinks or sketching the landscape.
Also inside is the Computer Science Museum, where you can see the evolution of computers. The first machines looked huge, like prehistoric dinosaurs, but gradually decreased in size, increasing their memory, capabilities and speed. This is the only, and therefore unique, museum in all of Europe, and you should definitely visit it.
In addition, there is an exhibition of three-dimensional paintings by Dimitri, a gallery of Models, a film about the construction of the arch itself is shown, and you can see Paris through the eyes of contemporary artists.
The Grand Arch is a landmark in the stylish capital and can be visited from 10:00 to 20:00 daily from April to late summer. Then the opening hours are reduced to 19:00. Tickets for adults cost 10 euros, children - 8 euros. For groups of adults – 8 euros, children – 7 euros.
Today the Defense district can boast of 50 majestic skyscrapers, 5 of which are above 180 meters.
The fate of some high-rise buildings is also interesting, and their example shows how the technologies and tastes of Parisians have changed. In 1974, the building of the UAP company rose 159 meters, personifying with its three rays the unity of three insurance companies. However, in 1996, SA became AXA due to a change of ownership.
In 2007, they took on the tower again. Her appearance radically changed, and also increased the top, and now with the spire it reaches 231 m, which makes it the highest in all of France. Now it is familiar to everyone as the First tower.
In second place is the TOTAL tower with a height of 190 m along with a 3-meter antenna. It belongs to the third generation of skyscrapers, and the building is distinguished by the skillful distribution of energy consumption and other resources within it.
The third in the list of tallest skyscrapers is the T1 tower, which has 37 floors and a height of 185 m. Then, the Areva tower (184 m), made in dark, strict colors, and Granite, an elegant structure in lighter colors, harmoniously fits into the ensemble of houses on La Défense shades and a height of 183 m.
To fully appreciate the beauty of modern Paris, it is best to view its business part from the Arc de Triomphe. During the day, glass panels beckon with sunbeams, and in the evening they flash with the golden colors of the setting sun.
Once in La Défense, you seem to find yourself in a city of the future, this quarter is so different from the usual cozy Paris with its memory of Louis in powdered wigs. There are no historical museums here, because this is a kingdom of sights from a completely different era, arousing no less interest.
There are about 60 architectural works of art in the area, and everyone can admire them while walking along the avenues and squares, but the bulk of the figures are concentrated in Andre-Malraux Park.
Among the funny figures is the famous sprout hatching from an apple, made of bronze and of stainless steel. Part of the glory goes to the paper clip and the wah, in whose mouth you can see another tiny one.
Opposite the Les Quatre Temps shopping center there is a completely phantasmagoric sculpture by Joan Miró - “Two Fantastic Characters”, expressed in plastic and rich colors.
« Bright trees“- another ambiguous composition, as if assembled from parts of various mechanisms, by the Greek sculptor Takis, popular among the French.
The futuristic figure of the American author Alexander Calder, “Red Spider,” also fits into the general surroundings. With a good imagination, you can even be scared of him, he looks so impressive.
The monument to the giant bronze finger, 12 meters high and weighing 18 tons, receives special love and attention. The authorship of the unusual figure belongs to Cesar (Caesar) Baldachini. He is as famous for his shockingness as Salvador Dali, and anyone familiar with the sculptor’s work understands that this is quite in his spirit.
In the middle of the last century, he became famous for his progressive metal works: birds, animals and insects. Later, he became interested in “avant-garde metal,” which ultimately led to the appearance of that bronze thumb sculpture.
In 1965, while searching for new forms and materials, during one of his experiments in synthetic resin, he left an impression of his finger. Later, Caesar came up with the idea to enlarge it and make it in metal. However, the monument found its place only in 1994, when it was installed in the La Défense district and solemnly presented in the presence of the Minister of Culture.
There are several other smaller copies of the finger - in the German city of Koblenz, in South Korea and America. The idea of the composition is approval, pleasure, encouragement. When a person experiences these feelings, he expresses it with one gesture - a raised finger.
It's impossible to visit France without going shopping. Chief among them is the huge Les Quatre Temps shopping center. Its area is 13,000 sq. m, and to find your way inside, look at the information department for a guide.
There are 265 retail outlets offering shoes, underwear, clothes for adults and children, sports equipment, accessories, cosmetics, perfumes and many other necessary things. Along with cheaper products, there are well-known trade marks, and what fashionista wouldn’t please herself with a branded leather handbag, shoes or a delicious fragrance?
Without leaving the center, you can visit the Auchan hypermarket, Kastorama - a hypermarket of items for repairs and home comfort, as well as have fun in a cinema with 16 halls and eat in one of 35 local cafes and restaurants.
The parking lot at the center can accommodate 6,500 cars, there is a rental of strollers for children and a room where mothers can change clothes or feed their babies.
The shopping center is located at: Les Quatre Temps: parvis de la Defense 15.
Tourists wishing to stay in a hotel located in the most progressive part of the capital can choose from one hundred and fifty offers. Thanks to the excellent transport links from any hotel you can always get to any other part of the city by metro, land transport or take a taxi.
Competition encourages hotels to provide residents with pleasant, unobtrusive service, home comforts, parking, fitness centers, free Wi-Fi, and some allow pets.
The Novotel Paris La Defense is a popular hotel with stunning views of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. The local restaurant offers a buffet for breakfast, and lunch and dinner will surprise you with original French masterpieces.
There are rooms for every taste, and the price is on average $150. When traveling with children, two under 15 years old can stay in the room with their parents for free. The Mercure Paris La Defense 5 hotel is in a similar price range. Newly arrived guests will receive a pleasant surprise - the so-called welcome treat.
In some rooms, you don't have to leave the room if you want to have a cup of coffee or other drink, as they are equipped with a free minibar and coffee maker.
If you have a modest budget, you can stay in hotels outside of Defense, and then accommodation for two per day will be reduced to $60, and it’s easy to come to the excursion by metro, spending 5-10 minutes. In any case, you will return to your room only at night to rest before a new portion of impressions, and this is an opportunity to save a lot on your stay.
The business district of La Défense is a park of skyscrapers made of glass, steel and concrete, but it is also a stylish part of Paris, striking with extravagance, freshness, and its own style.
It’s like another country, delighting with innovation, uncontrollable passion, thirst for radical changes and bold decisions. The French know how to surprise like no other, and this is their peculiarity, which never ceases to amaze you.
Since La Defense is radically different from other areas, it is impossible to get lost on the way to it.
There are several paths leading here:
Photo gallery La Défense quarter
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Novotel Paris La Defense Hotel
If I were asked to describe the La Défense quarter in two or three words, I would characterize it as a triumph of modern architecture, modernism in its pure form. I know this area quite well as it has one of the largest shopping centers in Paris Les 4 temps. I often went there for shopping or just to walk near the Great Arch and the garden with a fountain behind it.
It’s not for nothing that La Defense is called the French Manhattan. The area is almost entirely built up with skyscrapers and shopping centers. My friends and I joked that if you want to meet some businessman in Paris, you should not go to a club, but go to Defense. There are a lot of white collar workers here. Carrying briefcases and serious expressions on their faces, they continually emerge from their glass-and-concrete offices.
The area is full of a variety of abstract sculptures and compositions, the meaning of which I would not have understood without some hints - thanks to the Internet for providing guidance on this complex issue. To see all the sights, you need to walk around La Defense length and breadth, because some of them are hidden in the shadows of giant skyscrapers.
This is a new district of Paris, which began to be built only in the middle of the last century. It is located on the outskirts, and, I must say, the high-rise buildings fit well into the general landscape of the city. The name La Défense to the quarter was given by a monument that appeared on this site long before the newfangled quarter: the statue of La Défence de Paris was erected in honor of those killed during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871.
The first buildings in 1964. Six years later, a metro station of the same name was opened, where lines 1 and RER A intersect. In the 80s, the Grand Arch of Defense was installed; it was conceived as a continuation of the historical axis, originating from the Louvre and running through the Tuileries Garden, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees. Gradually, La Défense expanded in all directions, acquiring new sculptures and shopping centers.
Now this, as I said above, is a large business district, where the offices of many companies and shopping centers are concentrated, one of the tourist attractions of Paris. Interestingly, the construction of La Défense is still ongoing.
La Défense is full of a wide variety of sculptural and architectural compositions, there are about 68 of them in total. I will list the most interesting and popular ones.
It is also called the Great Arch of Brotherhood (we all remember about “Freedom, equality, brotherhood”). The project was conceived as a symbol of the power of French absolutism. To find original idea architectural structure, a competition was announced around the world. It was won by Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen. He was inspired by the experience of designing the Arc de Triomphe. This new arch was dedicated to the ideas of humanism, as opposed to the monumental buildings that were built in honor of wars.
It was opened in 1989, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. However, the arch gave me some kind of depressing feeling. She seems to overwhelm with her greatness.
Between the pillars of the Great Arch, a canvas representing a cloud is secured on cables. This is a kind of independent composition.
There is a glass elevator inside, where for 10 EUR you can go to the very top, but while I lived in Paris, the elevator did not work due to repair work. That's why I didn't go upstairs. They say there is a magnificent view from there.
Tourists and just people who decide to take a walk in this area love to sit on the steps near the arch.
This is the oldest sculptural composition in the area, which gave it its name.
A woman in a military frock coat, leaning one leg on a cannon, symbolizes calling for the defense of the Fatherland in Franco-Prussian War. At her feet are figures of defenders who are loading a gun and looking towards the site of the last military actions in 1871. A little girl with a sad face symbolizes the suffering of the country's inhabitants.
It's strange to see this classic statue surrounded by modern skyscrapers and abstract figures. In my opinion, it doesn’t really fit into the overall flavor of the area.
This sculpture is located opposite the Castorama shopping center. It was made by the American sculptor Alexander Calder.
Part of Calder's "Stable" series of works - figures that are graceful, but at the same time static. This work does not carry any other special meaning.
Installed right next to the Les 4 Temps shopping center. These are two futuristic compositions painted in bright colors. “A tribute to humor and life,” is how art critics characterize the sculpture. Yes, the sculptor Joan Miró has a lot of surrealism :).
Similar sculptures are included here in a kind of museum of modern abstract art under open air
The sculpture is located separately from the others; at first we didn’t even see it. Only on our day I don’t remember which visit to Defense we noticed, and that was purely by chance. This is one of several “fingers” that are installed in different parts of the world. The story is this: the sculptor Baldachini Cesar did something similar for the exhibition “The Hand: From Rodin to Picasso” (La Main, de Rodin à Picasso), and he was asked to repeat the “masterpiece” for La Défense.
Interestingly, the statue represents an enlarged finger of the author himself. Why finger? According to Cesar: “It was convenient to sculpt from a constantly available model.”
To find the "Finger", go to the right of the Great Arch. On Carpeaux Square you will see this sculpture, opposite is the Hilton Hotel.
The installation by artist Yakov Agam is located in front of the “Defense of Paris” statue, in the middle of La Défense. A huge rectangular fountain, painted in all the colors of the rainbow.
The author himself characterizes his creation as a “water fireworks” (he also wanted to add lights that would flare up from the supplied gas, but since this is too dangerous, the idea was rejected). The work belongs to a movement called kinetic art: artists create installations where they play with light, music and moving objects.
If you go further behind the arch, you will see this another work of modern art (late 80s), which reminded me of the “Tübingen Panel” in my glorious city of Petrozavodsk (read about it in my article on). The author of the installation is the Greek artist and sculptor Takis (Panayotis Vassilakis).
The composition represents a large pool in which there are metal poles. Upstairs - geometric figures different colors and forms.
The author conceived the composition as a symbol of the lights glowing in the evening or at night at the station when a train departs, or the numerous neon signs that accompany any city. That is, this is an interpretation of the “signals,” as he calls them, that are broadcast by the modern world.
Installation by the same artist Takis, located near the pool. These are trees on which electric white balls hang, and in the evening they begin to burn. It turns out to be a kind of square.
Also a reference to the night lights of large cities that never sleep.
Another abstract installation, which is located separately from other sculptures. Represents rounded lines. They are called indefinite because, depending on the angle, you can see different compositions in them.
The artist Bernard Venet wanted to show the beauty and smoothness of lines and circles, which contain more than it seems.
Already at the end of the alley you can see some sculptural compositions. I would not have thought that in front of me was another work of art: it looks more like ordinary fences for flower beds or trees in tubs.
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But in fact, there is meaning in these stone figures made of concrete, whose faces seem to merge with each other. There is a comparison between a kiss and a dance.
An architectural work by the French artist Moretti - a pipe consisting of colored thin lines. At night and in the evening, the light of the lanterns reflects the colorful colors onto the surrounding skyscrapers. That's very beautiful!
The Moretti Pipe also has a practical purpose: it is used for ventilation of underground structures under Defense.
I have described only a small part of the exhibition of this unique open-air museum. As I said above, there are a total of 68 installations, sculptures and bas-reliefs on the Defense territory. Full list with descriptions and photographs can be found
Boutiques and shops are located on each side of the arch. There are different brands: from elite ones, such as Michael Kors, to inexpensive ones - Jennifer, Aldo. I will list the largest shopping centers and hypermarkets.
On the left side of the arch is the huge Les 4 temps shopping center. Inside there are shops for clothes, shoes, and various accessories. There is also a grocery supermarket called Auchan. We often went to Les 4 temps, since the prices there were quite reasonable: clothes from 15–20 EUR. It's very easy to get lost inside, so pay close attention to the building plans that are posted throughout.
Inside there is a cinema, many cafes and restaurants for every taste and color: from budget ones like Burger King to expensive ones, for example, like Starbucks.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Travelers are unlikely to be interested in this hypermarket, but for those who fall in love with it and decide to settle here for a year or two (like me), or maybe for life, Castorama will definitely come in handy. If you are about to renovate or decide to buy something for the interior of your apartment, go to this giant shopping center, where you can pick up everything: from wallpaper to cute pillows.
In short, it's something like Ikea. Prices vary, it all depends on the manufacturer, on average from 20–30 EUR.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:30.
Chain of stores throughout Paris. They sell books, electrical appliances, multimedia products, etc. Something like Ozon, where you can buy tickets for various events.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00–20:00; on Sunday - 10:00–19:00.
A supermarket that sells groceries and household chemicals. In Auchan the prices are lower than in Monoprix, but the latter (which is logical) has fewer people. On the weekends in Auchan the apples can't fall, and that's when Monoprix comes to the rescue.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 08:00–21:00; Saturday - 09:00–21:00; Sunday - 09:00–13:00.
Decathlon is a brand that produces clothing, shoes, items for sports and hiking. Tents, sleeping bags and other equipment can be found here.
Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 20:30.
Right next to the arch is the La Défense metro station. Intersects with it RER A - a network of regional trains that run between small suburbs and Paris.
La Defense - very big station with many exits. Look for the La Grande Arche ("Great Arch") sign, which will take you to the center of La Défense.
Located in the Hauts-de-Seine department. It is the largest business center in Europe and has several dozen skyscrapers made of glass and reinforced concrete. Being a kind of city within a city, La Défense attracts tourists not only with its modern architecture. On the territory of the quarter there are more than fifty unusual monuments and sculptures, museums, shopping centers, and a huge green park. But the most important attraction of the business center is the 110-meter Grand Arch, to the observation deck of which about 1 thousand guests of Paris go up every day.
In the place where the La Défense district is located today in Paris, there used to be a hill with windmills called Chantecoq (The Song of the Roosters). It was here in 1871 that the French valiantly defended Paris from Prussian troops. Some time later, a monumental monument, La Defense de Paris (literal translation: “Defense of Paris”), was erected at the site of the battle, glorifying the valor and heroism of the French soldiers. In the middle of the last century, a business center began to grow around the monument, which received the name La Défense in honor of it.
The first decades of the twentieth century marked the emergence of skyscrapers. High-rise buildings were built in many major cities world, but Paris in this sense lagged behind other megacities. Local authorities understood that modern architecture would spoil the appearance of the central part of the city, and therefore opposed the construction of skyscrapers. In the early 50s, Charles de Gaulle proposed building the business center of Paris outside of it. His idea had 2 goals:
Champs Elysees
The history of the Défense district begins in 1958, when construction of the first skyscraper began on the site of the former Chantecoq hill. In the 60s, the quarter already consisted of 5 high-rise office buildings. At the same time, it was connected to the center of Paris by the RER public rapid transit system. In 1973, the construction of high-rise buildings in the La Défense area was suspended due to the global economic crisis, but 5 years later the project was revived, and the construction of skyscrapers began with renewed vigor.
The modern La Défense district in Paris is home to 60 high-rise buildings made of glass, steel and concrete blocks, most of which are striking in their unusual architecture. Square office premises in skyscrapers occupies 3.5 million square meters. This territory houses 1.5 thousand offices of large firms, insurance companies and banks. Every morning, more than 150 thousand clerks come to work from all over Paris in the business district.
Today the most tall skyscrapers La Defense are:
Expert opinion
Knyazeva Victoria
Guide to Paris and France
Ask a question to an expertAll the largest buildings in Defense contain offices. But among the skyscrapers of the area there are also residential buildings. These include Tour Defense (134 m, 47 floors), Tour France (126 m, 40 floors), Tour Eve (109 m, 30 floors), etc. These buildings attract attention not only with their height, but also with their unusual architectural design. Thus, the Tour Defense skyscraper is made in the form of a column expanding downwards, and Tour Eve in its shape resembles an ellipse. In total, about 20 thousand permanent residents live in the skyscrapers that fill the Défense quarter in Paris. The rest of Parisians come here to work from other metropolitan areas.
Tourists visiting the sights of Paris flock to its business center in order to take a photo against the backdrop of the Grand Arch, a monumental structure that is a miracle of modern architectural thought. A description of this structure can be found in all Paris guidebooks. The Great Arch of Defense was erected in 1989 in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Great french revolution designed by the Danish architect Spreckelsen. It is a 110-meter hollow cube, the walls of which are lined with glass and Carrara marble. The free space inside the structure is filled with a “cloud” - a white fabric awning floating in the air, simulating a free fall. At the bottom, the Grand Arch of Défense is equipped with steps on which loving couples like to relax, enjoying the view of the city that opens before them.
Marais Quarter
Not all tourists understand what the Grand Arch of Defense is and what functions it performs in the business district. Despite its unusual appearance, this structure is the most common office building. Inside the arch there are offices of international companies, ministries, and the EU information center. Anyone can use a transparent elevator to ascend to the observation deck located on the top floor of the building and admire the surroundings of Paris. However, it should be taken into account that the traveler will have to pay 7.5 euros to use the elevator.
The Arch of Défense in Paris is located on the historical axis of the capital running along the Seine. In addition to it, on this axis are the Louvre, Champs Elysees, Triumphal Arch and other attractions that France is proud of. Thanks to this location, the Great Arch can be seen from afar. To do this, you just need to go out onto the road going in the direction of the historical axis.
In the La Défense district, in addition to ultra-modern skyscrapers and the Grand Arch, the attention of travelers is attracted by monuments, of which there are about 60 throughout the quarter. Defense sculptures, like buildings, amaze the imagination unusual appearance and an unconventional approach to execution. For example, One of the monuments decorating this area of Paris is made in the shape of a 12-meter thumb. The author of the composition is the famous sculptor Cesar Baldachini. In Defense there are abstract figures of fairy-tale characters, a man balancing on a ball, a mirror sprout breaking out of the ground, a fat frog, etc.
Latin Quarter
Car enthusiasts in Paris will be interested in the Défense district because it is here that they will find the Automobile Museum, the collection of which includes about 100 exhibits. The staff of the establishment will not only invite visitors to inspect the vehicles, but will also give them interesting lectures on the history of the automotive industry. 
In the La Défense quarter of Paris, there is the largest shopping center in Europe called “The Four Seasons” (Les Quatre Temps), which houses 250 stores on 3 floors. This huge complex will save the traveler time on shopping, because in it you can buy almost everything a person needs. On the ground floor of the complex there are several cafes and a pizzeria where you can have a snack at a reasonable price. In addition to Four Seasons, you can find many other shops in the quarter. total area The retail space in the area occupies 210 thousand square meters.
