Grande Arche de la Défense

Paris’s Monumental, Modern Arch
- 1 Parvis de la Défense ,
- 92800 Puteaux
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To the west of Paris, the Grande Arche of the modern business center of La Défense stands in line with the Arc de Triomphe and the smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, in front of the Louvre.
The brainchild of former President François Mitterand, this huge glass, concrete, and steel archway was inaugurated on July 14, 1989, the year of the bicentenary of the French Revolution.
Few visitors find their way here as this modern landmark is all the way at the end of Metro Line 1, but perhaps more will make the trip as word gets out about the incredible views and great exhibitions in this unique space. Once you’ve ridden up 34 floors in one of four glass Tic-Tac-shaped elevators, you’ll definitely agree that it’s worth the quick metro ride!

While you’re at the start of the line, take the chance to discover all of our must-see spots along Paris Metro Line 1!
Offices and conference spaces fill the inside of the great arch, and a cultural space also awaits way up at the top, just under the panoramic “promenade.” I was lucky enough to catch the current exhibition of photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, on from June 28 – Dec 1, 2019. His stunning pictures of our world, of its people, and its animals are so good that I nearly forgot to head out onto the roof!
But once outside, the views are fabulous: a straight shot all the way down to the Arc de Triomphe, and you even get a glimpse the smaller one in the background. The Eiffel Tower and the Tour Montparnasse vie for your attention and the Fondation Louis Vuitton shimmers next to the sprawling Bois de Bologne. The modern surroundings offer a different perspective on Paris, letting you watch office workers and shoppers mill about like ants on the vast plaza between the enormous CNIT and Quatre Temps shopping centers.

In summer, the rooftop restaurant La City stays open late for drinks along with the excellent view, and in winter, the rooftop is transformed into an ice-skating rink, giving locals and tourists alike another fabulous place to ice skate in Paris.
Oh, and one more thing! Down below, in the belly of the arch (just head down from the ticket office on the escalator), you can find a very hidden art installation. The 50-pillar crossroads by Daniel Buren, of Palais-Royal fame. The pillars are black-and white on the side, and blue, red, or pink on the others. See if you can get all three color schemes into one photograph…

Tickets for accessing the rooftop terrace, called the Promenade, are 15€ for adults, 7€ for children 3-18, outside of special events and activities.
Grande Arche de la Défense
MÔM
Le Pied de Cochon
Le Barbouille
Caïus
Frenchie
Poinçon
The Hardware Société
Le Saint-Régis
Pantagruel
Brasserie La Lorraine
Du Pain et Des Idées
Brasserie Dubillot
Granite
Giorgio
Bouillon Julien
FIEF
Fluctuat
Le Four du 12
Café A
Aux Petits Oignons
Le Coupe-Chou
Les Vins des Dames
Bouillon Chartier
Lapérouse
Monsieur Bleu
Chez Gladines
Le Voltaire
Misso
Bambou
Septime
Il Cottage
Le Chalet de Neuilly
Georges
Le Pantruche
Le Radis Beurre
La Felicità, Station F
Le Comptoir du Relais Saint Germain
Vaudeville
Le Troquet
Le Grand Bain
Bisou.
Paname Brewing Company
Mezcaleria
Berthillon
Willi’s Wine Bar
Dose – Dealer du Café (Batignolles)
Rosa Bonheur – Buttes Chaumont
Mr Culbuto
Boca Dos
Le Comptoir Général
Anticafé
Dragon
Candelarìa
La Péniche Antipode
Castor Club
La Belle Hortense
Le Mary Celeste
Fitzgerald
Café de Flore
Le Syndicat
Night Flight
Tiger
Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
Le Bar Dix
Le Bouclier de Bacchus
CloudM
Strada Café
Le Perchoir de l’Est
Divine
Le Renard Bar
Wild & The Moon
Le Peloton
Le Pavillon des Canaux
Dose – Dealer de Café (Mouffetard)
Café Kitsuné – Palais Royal
Angelina
L’Abribus Café
Le Perchoir Marais
La Samaritaine
Eataly
Antique & Used Book Market, Marché du Livre
La Cure Gourmande
Marché Belgrand
Bercy Village
Les Puces de Vanves
Liquides
Passy Covered Market
Le Bon Marché
Printemps
Le Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville
Koshka Mashka
Galeries Lafayette
Librairie Galignani
Buly 1803
Androuet
The Frankie Shop
Shakespeare and Company
Assouline – Saint Germain
Fromagerie Quatrehomme
Legrand Filles et Fils
Empreintes
The Abbey Bookshop
Aujourd’hui Demain
Artazart
CityPharma
Verbreuil
TWINS Concept Store
Merci
L’Eau et Les Rêves
Alix D. Reynis
Marché Saint-Pierre
L’Eclair de Génie
Matières à Réflexion
Erotokritos
L’Appartement Sézane
Galerie Dior
Musée Carnavalet
Square Marcel Bleustein Blanchet
Bourse de Commerce
Square Édouard VII
Musée de Montmartre
Rue Denoyez
Le Village Saint Paul
Square des Batignolles
Wall of ‘I Love You’
Les Champs-Elysées
Galerie Perrotin
Fluctuart
Galerie Kamel Mennour
Atelier des Lumières
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Institut du Monde Arabe
59 Rivoli
Parc de Belleville
Square Barye
Rue des Eaux
Parc Monceau
Arènes de Lutèce
Musée Nissim de Camondo
Musée Jacquemart-André
L’Hôtel de Sully
Centre Pompidou
La Sainte-Chapelle
Cimetière du Montparnasse
Galerie Vivienne
Maison de Balzac
La Conciergerie
Gertrude Stein’s Apartment
Musée de l’Homme
Place Dauphine
Notre Dame Cathedral
Maison de Victor Hugo
Rue Cler
Musée Marmottan Monet
Rue Daguerre
La Seine Musicale
Aquaboulevard
Supersonic
BAM Karaoke Box
Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione
Moulin Rouge
Crazy Horse Paris
Folies Bergère
Le Grand Rex
Théâtre Michel
Gossima Ping-Pong Bar
Playground Duperré
‘Oh My God, She’s Parisian’ Comedy Show
Les Petites Flèches
Le Louxor
La Gare
Théâtre du Châtelet
Café Oz – Denfert
Bus Palladium
Open-Air Cinema at La Villette
Les Bains du Marais
Aux Bains Montorgueil
Hammam Les Cent Ciels
Free Persephone
Spa My Blend by Clarins
Peninsula Spa
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Paris
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1 Parvis de la Défense
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92800 Puteaux
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