Before we left on our Paris trip, I asked for opinions on visiting La Défense. I was curious about Le Grande Arche - so enormous in scale, and so spare and modern compared to the historic Paris buildings I loved.
On the day after our Paris arrival, Kim, Shannon and I were on top of the Arc de Triomphe admiring the views. Once we saw Le Grande Arche in the distance at the end of one of the Etoile spokes, we decided to see it in person - immediately!
We took Métro line 1 to the Grande Arche de la Défense stop, and went up the escalators.
I don't think I can describe the impact that huge hollow cube has in person. Looking up at it from the base, it's so incredibly immense ... almost surreal. Because the smooth marble façade was such a contrast to the rest of the architecture we'd seen everywhere, it was almost soothing to the eye.
Several of the other buildings at La Défense were eye-catching, too, but not unique to anyone who's seen modern skyscrapers.
We loved that just as we saw Le Grande Arche in the distance from the Arc de Triomphe, we could see the Arc at the end of the avenue from the Arche. Here's Kim's blog entry of the arches we saw that day. And here is the link to our podcast from Le Grande Arche.
If you've spent enough time in Paris that you're ready to explore a bit further afield, a trip to La Défense is definitely worth it.
Colleen, Kim, and Shannon
Posts: 16055 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
OK, OK, I think I'm convinced that it will be worth a metro ride out to see it. It seems to always be portrayed as cold and uninviting in French movies.
Honestly can't tell if you ladies are engaging in a bit of satire or are really serious ? If the latter, well, as someone who unfortunately had to do business on a fairly regular basis in La Défense - all I can say is - to each his own ! And just glad it's no longer mine...
As one who works very near and passes thru it everyday of the week, its nice for folks to see something new of beautiful France.
Good for you girls. and yes the arche is awesome, did you look down the ave grand armée into the arc de triomphe,champs elysées and then the carrousel du louvre? great shot view.
The Hypermarket Auchan is part of the centre commercial quatre vents, huge numbers of stores including FNAC and Virgin. then across the esplanade you have CNIT congress center with more stores and restaurants. Also a huge cinema UGC,my kids favorite place there!!
To me, it felt like stepping into Logan's Run. Like Colleen, I'm glad I went but not sure if I feel the need to return ... well accept maybe for Auchon.
That was surreal - like the biggest and baddest supermarket in the US but on steroids! And the lines - on Thanksgiving eve or the morning of an impending blizzard, I don't think I've ever seen lines like that in my local supermarket - and this was just a normal Friday night. They did have tarragon mustard though for something crazy like €1, so I might return for stuff like that!
Here's a shot of the Grand Arch from the Arch de Triomphe (sp)
The first time I went there was on a school trip in 1999, just to see the Grande Arche and how it lines up with the Champs Elysee all the way down to the Louvre.
Then last year I convinced my mum that she _had_ to see it too, as it wasn't there when she was in Paris in 1963. She was also blown away. It's just such a contrast to the rest of Paris but it's also an awesome concept. I'd say that a visit to La Defense makes an interesting few hours in Paris.
In my experience, some French tourists do go ga-ga at Wal-Mart. Some I knew spent hours there. They couldn't get over the variety of merchandise available and the low prices.
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And here is the link to our 
