STREET/NEIGHBOURHOOD OF INTEREST

Paris La Défense

Parvis de la Défense - 92400 Paris La Défense 92 - Hauts-de-Seine, La Défense
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Paris La Défense - Garden Parvis Transat
© Paris La Défense - Sabrina Budon
Paris La Défense - Vue depuis le Sacré-Cœur
© Paris La Défense - Carlos Ayesta
Paris La Défense - Skyline vue de l'Arc de Triomphe
© Paris La Défense - Anne Claude Barbier
Paris La Défense - Garden Parvis
© Hadrien Picard
Paris La Défense - Bassin Agam
© Sabrina Budon
Paris La Défense - Araignée rouge - Alexander Calder
© 11h45
Paris La Défense - Skyline Paris La Défense depuis l'arc de Triomphe
© AC Barbier
Le Moretti par Raymond Moretti
© Paris La Défense
Paris La Défense - Ambiance Juillet avec Bassin
© Paris La Défense - Sabrina Budon
Paris La Défense - Grande arche et quartier vegetalise
© Sabrina Budon
Paris La Défense - Ambiance Juillet avec la Grande Arche
© Paris La Défense - Augustin Détienne
Paris La Défense - Ambiance Juillet avec la Grande Arche
© Paris La Défense - Bénédite Topuz
Paris La Défense - Garden Parvis 14 Juillet Défilé Aérien
© Paris La Défense - Augustin Détienne
Paris La Défense - Le Bassin de Takis
© Paris La Défense - Bénédite Topuz
Paris La Défense - Marche de Nöel avec patinoire
© Sabrina Budon
Paris La Défense - Le Pouce de César
© Paris La Défense - Constance Décorde
Paris La Défense - Marché de Noël 2025
© Paris La Défense - Sabrina Budon
Paris La Défense - Œuvre Alexander Calder
© Paris La Défense - Augustin Détienne
Paris La Défense - Parc Diderot
© Paris La Défense - Bénédite Topuz
Paris La Défense - Araignée Rouge - Alexander Calder
© PLD Constance Decorde
Paris La Défense - Skyline vue de la Tour Montparnasse - 1
© Paris La Défense - Anne Claude Barbier
Paris La Défense - Skyline vue de la Tour Montparnasse - 2
© Paris La Défense - Anne Claude Barbier
Paris La Défense - Skyline vue du drugstore
© Paris La Défense - Anne Claude Barbier
Paris La Défense - Deux personnages fantastiques de Joan Miro
© Florent Michel - 11h45
Europe's largest business district is undergoing a major transformation to become a post-carbon business hub. By 2028, the mineral esplanade will give way to an immense 5-hectare urban park, stretching over 600 meters between the Agam fountain and the Takis basin: creation of tree-lined promenades and meeting places to link Puteaux and Courbevoie, installation of 6 water basins and shaded areas to combat the heat, new sports facilities, playgrounds and relaxation areas designed for employees, residents and tourists alike.
The district of La Défense, the largest economic center in Europe, covers three communes: Courbevoie, Puteaux and Nanterre. This business district, mainly surrounded by towers, headquarters and offices, is home to the tallest and most emblematic towers in France: Coeur Défense, EDF, Granite, First ... In the middle of this modern landscape, on the esplanade, 60 works of art enliven this frame. Among the most important are Shelomo Selinger's "The Dance", a set of 35 carved planters, stretching over the 3,600 m² of the Lower Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle square; Alexander Calder's "Red Spider", a 15-meter tall sculpture located not far from the Total Tower; "The monumental fountain" of Yaacov Agam; "Fantastic Characters" by Joan Miró; "Takis Basin" piquet of enigmatic signals closes the slab to the East; Raymond Moretti's "Chimney" 32 meters high and made up of hundreds of colored tubes; "The Thumb" by Cesar Baldaccini, sculpture of 12 meters. The district is home to two metro stations, a shopping center "Les Quatre Temps", a modern church Notre-Dame de Pentecôte. The main monument of the district is the spectacular Grande Arche, a masterpiece created in 1989 by the architects Johan-Otto Von Spreckelsen and Paul Andreu. The La Défense esplanade hosts every year major events: Christmas market, an ice rink, La Défense Jazz Festival ... La Défense is since 25 September 2019 classified International Tourist Zone.

Map

Map
Address
Parvis de la Défense
92400 Paris La Défense

Useful information

🎯 Join us on a stroll through the heart of the La Défense district

Welcome to Paris La Défense, Europe’s largest business district and an incredible open-air museum of contemporary art. Stroll along its esplanade on Paris’s historic axis, from the Plenitude Arena to the Bassin Takis, passing the Grande Arche on the way. Keep your eyes peeled: here, art interacts with the architecture at every turn.

📌 What to do in La Défense? Our top picks for art and leisure activities📌 Que faire à La Défense ? Nos meilleures adresses entre art et loisirs

Much more than a business centre, Paris La Défense is a vibrant place to live, explore like an open-air museum or enjoy as a gourmet destination. Whether you are a fan of contemporary art, a shopping enthusiast or a foodie, the district is full of surprising places nestled at the foot of skyscrapers or on the huge pedestrian esplanade.

Here is our selection of must-see places to make the most of your visit!

📌 La Défense on the move: festivals, culture and entertainment📌 Que faire à La Défense ? Nos meilleures adresses entre art et loisirs

Throughout the year, the esplanade of Paris La Défense is transformed into a huge venue for cultural and festive events. Much more than just a business centre, the district thrives on international events that attract art and history lovers as well as music and gaming enthusiasts. From temporary summer gardens to jazz festivals at the foot of the towers, each event is an invitation to discover the district from a new and convivial perspective.

Here are the highlights that punctuate life on the esplanade and in its cultural venues!

📌 Staying and dining in La Défense: comfort and fine dining

The La Défense district of Paris boasts an exceptional range of hotels, combining modern comfort with striking architecture. Whether you’re stopping over for work or visiting as a tourist, staying here offers a unique advantage: enjoying spacious rooms to international standards with spectacular views over Paris. Ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Metro Line 1 and the RER A, these establishments allow you to reach the heart of the capital in 15 minutes whilst enjoying the tranquillity of the esplanade in the evening.

When it comes to dining, there’s plenty of choice, with gourmet spots such as Gallika and its modern Greek cuisine, the healthy dishes at Noon, or the exotic flavours of Comptoir des Îles. Discover our selection of the best places to stay and dine, from intimate boutique hotels to prestigious five-star establishments.

❓Frequently asked questions

Why is the neighbourhood called La Défense?

The neighbourhood takes its name from the statue ‘La Défense de Paris’ sculpted by Louis-Ernest Barrias and unveiled in 1883. This bronze work pays tribute to the soldiers and civilians who defended the capital during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Originally installed on the Courbevoie roundabout, it gave its name to the crossroads and then to the entire business district developed in the 1950s.

Where is the La Défense district located?

The La Défense district is located west of Paris, in the Hauts-de-Seine department, in the municipalities of Puteaux, Courbevoie, Nanterre and La Garenne-Colombes. Accessible by numerous public transport options, this area extends along the historic Parisian axis that crosses the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.

How do I get to La Défense and what transport options are available?

La Défense is served by several public transport lines: metro line 1 (Grande Arche terminus), RER lines A and E, tram line T2, and Transilien lines L and U. The ‘Cœur Transport’ multimodal hub centralises all these modes of transport in a vast interchange directly connected to the Les Quatre Temps and Cnit shopping centres.

Which shops are open on Sundays in La Défense?

The Westfield Les 4 Temps and CNIT shopping centres are open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with more than 300 shops. You'll find many brands such as Fnac, Décathlon, Monoprix, as well as restaurants and the UGC cinema, which stays open until 11 p.m. so you can extend your shopping weekend.

What is the Paris La Défense Arena?

The Paris La Défense Arena is a multi-purpose venue inaugurated in 2017 in Nanterre, designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc. This modular venue can accommodate between 15,000 and 45,000 spectators depending on the configuration and is the largest indoor venue in Europe. It is home to the Racing 92 stadium and hosts concerts, shows and international sporting events.

Which municipalities make up La Défense?

The La Défense business district mainly covers three municipalities in the Hauts-de-Seine department: Puteaux, Courbevoie and Nanterre. Part of the area also extends into La Garenne-Colombes. Together, these four towns form the geographical perimeter of Europe's leading business district, each hosting different sectors and iconic towers.

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