La Défense

Grande Arche de la Défense is a beautiful, modern monument in La Défense, Paris. Although it isn't the most well-known or widely recognised monument in Paris, it is kind of an unsung hero of the city which is truly one of my favourite cities in the world, it's a modern arch which consists of government offices, in a really nice square which separates Westfield and CNIT, right by the metro station which is underneath. At 360 ft tall, it is a little taller than the Tour Eiffel and also forms part of the Axe Historique. It's magnificent structure really adds grace and elegance into the La Defense area and makes the view from the Starbucks nearby a little better, especially in the outdoor patio area. It does have multiple steps which lead up the monument which is popular for people to sit and relax, while it might not have the international fame or wow-factor as the Arc de Triomph (of which it is 4km away from) or the Tour Eiffel, it's a pretty nice and underrated monument in a great city.

1st one to review? No way Jose! Oops.. No way Yelp! it's grand for sure. take the M1 and this is the end of the route. you can also take RER but since you are crossing the river, you will be charged extra. get to the top of stairs and look to the south and you can see the Arc Dr Triumph. don't forget to take selfies. lots of restaurant to the west and also Mcdonald to get your WiFi.

Awesome spot to visit as this Arche is freaking massive and provides some awesome views with a more modern experience then typical Paris. The architecture is cool and the lines are smooth. There is a nice staircase that leads up to the Arche and even enables a solid view of the Arch de Triomphe in the distance. It's actually amazing that the 3 archs' are perfectly centered with one another. Major downsides to this place is that there really isn't anything around aside from a mall and some really expensive drinks. Overall, it's worth a trip for exploration but I wouldn't necessarily spend much time out there... Pros- Gorgeous Views Architecture Extremely modern Staircase Relaxation Cons- Out of the way Not much in the area Expensive drinks etc nearby Primarily a business district Outside of Paris

Since the Grande Arch was located across our hotel, we had a decent view and wondered what the fuss was about as it was nowhere near the intricate sculpting of the Arc de Triomphe. From afar, it looks like a square welcome door for alien ships, at least that's what one friend (who hails from New Mexico) commented! The up close view is a different story. The structure is massive, an architectural wonder in its own right, and even includes step seating below. From here, you can get a tiny view of the Arc de Triomphe, and supposedly these structures align. So, if you're in the area, take a look. Some of the other features in the mall area included a big thumb sculpture, much to our amusement, and a living wall of greenery.

It seems as if they wanted to create something a bit more modern in this part of Paris, which is basically an incredibly modern part of the city as it is. Really, it isn't all that flash - it is just a really big square standing at the end of a long road that travels all the way down to the Arc de Triumph and the Place d' Concorde. You can also see the Eifel tower in another direction, but there doesn't seem to be a long road heading there. I only came here to check out La Defense, and this place as well, but I would recommend going out of your way to see it.

At the start of a business week on a Monday mid-morning in a past life, my former love and I utilized the Paris Métro all the way to La Défense. It is here where much of the modern skyscrapers in the city lies. La Défense is primarily a business district, but we came to see the Grand Arch. Grand indeed with modern office buildings as there is not much attraction flair for tourists. Aligned with the Arc de Triomphe in a parallel position where visible on a clear day, which at night it illuminate to display its full structural beauty. We took some photos but did not go to the top of the structure.

It is pretty impressive and modern Paris. The arch is massy. We got there late at light so did not get to the top of the arch. There are many restaurants and shoppings there. It is a good place to take a break from the museums and palace. It is worth to visit if you have time.

Great modern architecture in commerce center. Very quiet at the weekend. Check online if roof is open. westfield centre just next to the arche.

Pretty cool to see... we actually had no idea this was in Paris until we saw it when we got off the train to head to our hotel. The arch is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense and in the commune of Puteaux, to the west of Paris, France. It is usually known as the Arche de la Défense or simply as La Grande Arche. It is 110-metres high.

So, whenever I think of Paris, the first thing that comes to mind is La Arc du Trimpomphe, which is pretty much the antithesis of this arch. Archie de la defense is definitely an interesting, modern contrast to the rest of this old spectacular city. There are quite a few restaurants and shopping malls in the nearby vicinity, so be sure to check them out too while you're here. The only other downside though, is that besides a few hotels, the arch, and the mall, there aren't many things to do here. All the companies here are targeted more towards business travelers that want to avoid the touristy crowded spaces. I don't recommend making a long trip out of the way just to visit La defense. However, if you're in this area, it's much more convenient to stay outside of the busy center and take the metro into the city. It's more peaceful at night and on the metro, it is only about twenty minutes tops to get into the city.

One evening after walking the entire length of the Champs-Élysées, my then partner and I decided to hop on the Metro and check out la Défense. We didn't know much about it but we had heard that there were some interesting things there. Whilst the trip to la Défense was a bust, the Grande Arche was definitely a highlight of the trip! It is perfectly in line with the more famous Arc de Triomphe and at night, you can see them lined up in lights. The Grande Arche has a spotlight that draws you to it and has offices located inside! I was really surprised to see windows there! How cool would it be to have your office located there! Don't make a trip out to la Défense just to see this, there isn't much else here. But if you find yourself out this way, make sure you check it out!

Inaugurated in celebration of the 200 years after the French Revolution. Not really a must do in Paris. From a tourist point of view there isn't much going on in the immediate area. It's a version of the classic arch located in the business district of La Defense. I remember first seeing it a couple of years after it was completed and always thought it was sleek and modern looking with a futuristic design. There are offices inside. Public access to the roof.

My husband and I stayed in the La Défense area during our trip to Paris in November 2016, and I must say I am happy with our choice for the ease of accessibility and the breath of fresh air from tourist congestion. La Défense is not your typical tourist destination in Paris. It is where they keep all of the unsightly corporate buildings (except Montparnasse Tower), and where French people (both Parisians and suburban) go to work. It is a modern corporate park. But, it seems that the French figured out a great way to make an unsightly corporate park easy on the eyes. You can walk along the long boardwalk all the way up to the Grand Arch and find colors, shapes, and structures which will surprise and delight you. During normal business hours, La Défense bustles with non-tourists. And if you know anything about Paris, you are aware that at most tourist destinations, you will find masses of people cramming in lines and solicitors desperately trying to harass them to buy tchotchkes. This is not the case in La Défense. My husband and I were happy to start and end our days in peace and quiet, away from all of the mayhem. If you are not staying at La Défense but are visiting Paris in the winter season, I recommend taking the RER red line or the yellow metro line #1 to La Grande Arche stop, where you will encounter "Le Marché de Noël" (open Christmas markets) between November 23 - Christmas. You can find really good and reasonably priced local or Swiss cuisine as well as holiday goodies, ranging from smoked meats to local cheeses, wines, winter clothing, and tchotchkes. There is also a huge mall called "Le Quatre Temps" located next to the arch. Oh, and re: the Arch, you cannot climb it. There are a few steps which will allow you to gain some elevation. But the Arch itself is actually an office building.

Modern Paris.This is not the first area of town that I would suggest to visitors of Paris. I would tend to direct them to the center and areas in the single digit arrondissements. However, if you are in town for a few days or would like to see something off the normal tourist path, this place is for you. Located off a convenient metro stop, the Grande Arche, is an impressive sight. You can join the many Parisians having lunch on the steps or you can go to the top and look out over the city.

We stayed at the Hilton in La Defense and once you come out of the metro station, you'll see this huge grand arch right behind you. Wow, magnificent! You can also see this arch when you are standing at the Arc De Triomphe; that's how tall and grand it is. Many people do people-watching on the steps below the arch...

Great little spot at Pier 39. It was a nice day, and decided to have a break from all the walking. They have a great selection of 3 wine glass samplers for almost nothing (well compared to prices in Canada!). Nice view overlooking the bay.

Since you can see the Grand Arch everywhere from Paris, it really is not worth the visit unless you happen to be in the area. As part of the Axis of history for Paris, it is kind of neat. Whenever there are flyovers in Paris along the Champs Elysees, the planes line up from behind the Grand Arch, so this is a good spot to catch the jets and the flyovers, get a view of the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Also, there is exceptional large scale modern art installations along the Esplanade, and some great fountains, architecture, and unique space planning. Some great sidewalk cafes too, plus shopping atthe massive Quatre Temps mall. Pretty cool spot, actually.

It's always fun to take the metro out to La Defense. Unfortunately the observation tower enclosed so that definitely was a disappointment. It's still have great to see the area.