Continuing on from the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, the emblematic district of La Défense extends over four municipalities: Courbevoie, Puteaux, Nanterre and La Garenne-Colombes. Its identity as a business district is immediately apparent, with its countless towers, offices and headquarters of the country's largest companies.
Yet this immense car-free space of 31 hectares is also an outdoor museum. Nearly 70 contemporary artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries add a human touch to the modern urban landscape. Which is your favourite? "La danse", the 35 planters sculpted by Shelomo Selinger adorning the 3,600 m² expanse of Place Basse de l'Esplanade; "La Cheminée", a work standing 32 metres tall made up of hundreds of colourful tubes from the imagination of Raymond Moretti, or "L'Araignée rouge", a 15-metre tall sculpture created by Alexander Calder? Other prestigious artists, such as Miró, César or Takis, and some less well-known artists, will amuse and surprise you. Like the 63 million visitors who come every year, you can continue your visit with a stroll in the 52 hectares of the André Malraux Park, created by the landscape gardener Jacques Sgard.
The main attraction of the district, classified as an International Tourist Zone since 2019, is probably the Grande Arche, a striking monument inaugurated in 1989 for the bicentenary of the French Revolution. From its roof at a height of 110 metres, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of Paris and its famous buildings!
The lively and dynamic neighbourhood also includes two metro stations, the "Westfield Les 4 Temps" shopping centre with its eclectic boutiques, and many bars and restaurants. Every year, the famous esplanade hosts a wide variety of events, such as La Défense Jazz Festival in June, the Christmas market, Le Printemps de la Sculpture in March, sports events... and even a skating rink in December.
By 2026, a vast project aims to transform the Esplanade de La Défense into an urban park of 5 hectares that will give pride of place to greenery, while promoting the area's heritage. The ambitious aim of this future responsible and user-friendly natural area will be to make the area the number one post-carbon business district in the world, by halving greenhouse gas emissions between now and 2030.
