Grande Arche de la Défense

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  • Address
    1 parvis de la Défense, La Défense
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  • Phone
    01 49 07 27 27
  • Website
  • Transport
    underground rail: La Défense Grande Arche

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Lonely Planet review

La Défense's biggest draw card is the remarkable, cubelike Grande Arche (Great Arch). Designed by Danish architect Johan-Otto von Sprekelsen and housing government and business offices, it is made of white Carrara marble, grey granite and glass, and measures 110m exactly along each side.

Inaugurated on 14 July 1989, it marks the western end of the 8km-long Axe Historique (Historic Axis), begun in 1640 by André Le Nôtre of Versailles fame and stretching from the Louvre's glass pyramid through the Jardin des Tuileries and along av des Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, Porte Maillot and finally La Défense's Esplanade du Général de Gaulle. The structure symbolises a window open to the world and is slightly out of alignment with the Axe Historique - on purpose. Who wants perfection? Lifts will whisk you up to the 35th floor of the arch, but some people think neither the views from the rooftop nor the temporary art exhibits justify the ticket price.