During your visit of historic sites and walks along cobblestone streets, it is important to recognize that Paris is also a developed, modern city. West of the city, easily reachable by Metro or RER train, is La Défense - the city's major business center. Why would you want to venture to a business district full of skyscrapers, home to some of the major corporations of France?
To see the Historical Axis, which is a 6-mile line of monuments comprised of the:
• Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at Jardin des Tuileries;
• Arc de Triomphe at Place D'Etoile;
• Grande Arche at La Défense.
The Historical Axis developed from the building of the Champs-Elysées as a thoroughfare to the west. Napoleon first established the building of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. Then in 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was completed at the end of the Champs-Elysées. It wasn't until 1990 under president François Mitterand that a modern version of the Arc de Triomphe was built at La Défense.
The Esplanade at La Défense is also popular for outdoor lunches - but these are typically office workers and not the tourist crowd (see photo below).
Climb the stairs up to the Grande Arche, turn east and you'll be treated to an amazing view.
Metro: La Défense, Line 1 (needs 3rd zone ticket) *travel all zones on one Metro ticket (not applicable to passes) - thanks Ludovic!
RER A: La Défense *all zone rules apply for the RER train system
By Margaret Li on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 @ 9:52 AM
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By
Ludovic @
Monday, April 21, 2008 3:10 PM
Je devais récemment retrouver un ami qui habite à La Défense. Je pensais y aller en RER (plus rapide), mais il m'a dit qu'avec ma carte orange 2 zones ça ne passerait pas... Et effectivement, sur le site de la RATP, en regardant les plans RER, on voit bien que La Défense est en zone 3 (limite, limite, mais en zone 3 quand même). Par contre, avec un ticket de métro, tu peux aller absolument partout où va le métro, sans limite de zones... ;)
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