La Défense

La Défense stands apart from the rest of Paris neighborhoods by being a primarily office-focused district.

Alongside the City of London, está considerado como el mayor distrito de negocios de Europa, with a business park comprising 3 million m² of office space, around 1,500 companies, 150,000 employees, and 11 hectares of green areas.

La Défense is a great area where to stay in Paris for two good reasons: it is well connected by public transport and offers a wide range of alojamientos a precios mucho más baratos que el centro de París. Join us as we explore the La Défense district of Paris!

A Brief History

The La Défense district of Paris took its first steps in the 1950s, when authorities chose this area on the outskirts of Paris — previously intended mainly for residential and industrial use — to create a major financial district.

It lies to the west of Paris, along the extension of the historic axis formed by the Champs-Élysées and the Avenue Charles de Gaulle. This axis begins near the Louvre Museum and ends at the Grande Arche de La Défense.

First came the construction of the CNIT (National Center for Industries and Technologies) con su singular forma de bóveda triangular, after which dozens of towers and skyscrapers began rising simultaneously, giving the area a modern feel that stands in sharp contrast with classic Paris.

In 1981, Les Quatre Temps was created, which at the time was el mayor centro comercial de Europa. This area also features around 60 contemporary works of art and several hanging gardens, making it feel like an open-air museum.

Furthermore, to improve traffic flow and preserve the views along the Historic Axis, the "Dalle" was built — a platform that ingeniously conceals all transport links and creates a pedestrian zone offering stunning views of the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

The central business district that makes up La Défense in Paris is not actually a French commune, as its territory is shared among three municipalities: Courbevoie, Nanterre y Puteaux, which are all part of the Hauts-de-Seine department.

The origin of its name

As a fun fact, the name La Défense comes from a bronze statue of the same name, erected in 1883 by Louis-Ernest Barrias to commemorate the soldiers who defended Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. Who would have thought?

What to see in La Défense

The skyscrapers in La Défense, Paris are one of the main attractions in this district, and the one that stands out the most is the gigantic and impressive Arco de la Defensa en París.

Inaugurated in 1989, it is an office building standing 110 meters tall and 112 meters deep. It is so large that it could fit the Notre-Dame Cathedral within its arch, and it is particularly striking because of su contorno contemporáneo de mármol blanco.

You can go up to the Grande Arche every day from 10am to 7pm (last ascent at 6:30pm) and stroll along its 100-meter-long terrace, before enjoying unas espectaculares vistas de la capital francesa which only rival those offered by the iconic Eiffel Tower.

More places to visit in La Défense, Paris

Although this area is known for housing the headquarters of numerous French and international companies, including the European Banking Authority, it is also an incredible place to hacer turismo fuera del centro parisino, as is Eurodisney or Disneyland Paris.

Among the best things to see in La Défense are the enormous Les Quatre Temps shopping center, the bronze statue that gives the district its name, the lovely Parc André Malraux, and some of the contemporary artworks scattered throughout the area.

In your search for these treasures, you may come across the Pouce (The Thumb) by César, Joan Miró's figures, the Fontaine Monumentale by Yaacov Agam, un trozo del muro de Berlín and many more murals, statues, and various types of installations.

Likewise, we also want to mention the gran mercado navideño held in La Défense every year, where you can find all kinds of crafts, trinkets, gifts, and plenty of traditional seasonal food. It's the perfect plan if you're spending Christmas in Paris.

How to get to La Défense

The La Défense central business district is very easily accessible by public transport. Below, we list all the possible ways to get there:

• RER Train: Line A, La Défense Grande Arche station.
• Metro: Line 1, La Défense Grande Arche and Esplanade de la Défense stations.
• Tram: Line 2, La Défense Grande Arche station.
• Bus: Nos. 73, 141, 158, and 159.
• Tren de cercanías Transilien: Lines U (La Défense–Verrière) and L (Paris Saint-Lazare–Versailles/Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche)

In addition, by 2024, RER Line E trains coming from Gare du Nord Stationare expected to stop at La Défense. So no matter where you are staying, getting there won't be difficult.

Now that you know the importance of the modern La Défense district and why you absolutely must include it in your itinerary when visiting the French capital, how about continuing to discover everything there is to see in Paris and las mejores opciones de alojamiento?