The 21st century version of the Arc de Triomphe, the Grande Arche de la Defense (Great Arch) was commissioned by president Mitterand as the modern antithesis of the older monument. Standing for peace and humanitarian ideals instead of war victories, the cube like structure, designed by Danish architect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen, was completed in 1989 and inaugurated on the bicentennial of the French Revolution. The Grande Arche, which contains 95 000 square metres of office space, sits at the heart of la Defense, a hi-tech modern business district. A self-guided visit will take you up to the roof via panoramic lifts, from where you can enjoy outstanding views across the Paris.
Transport to Grande Arche de la Defense
