The Grande Arche in Puteaux at a glance
An office building featuring ultramodern architecture in the shape of a three-dimensional cube, the Grande Arche in Puteaux will surprise you with its massive 1,200 square meter terrace, the Esplanade, which is the largest of Paris, and its superb panorama of the historical axis. This line of sight starts from the courtyard of the Louvre Museum and crosses legendary locations like the Tuileries Garden, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées avenue, and the Arc de Triomphe. Art lovers will be pleased to find several works by Miro and Calder scattered across the esplanade and its surroundings, all visible year-round. The terrace located above the roof of the Grande Arche regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.
Located in the business district of the same name, it was inaugurated in 1989 for the bicentennial of the French Revolution. Commissioned by François Mitterrand, who spearheaded other massive projects like the Opéra Bastille, the Louvre Pyramid, and the Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances (French Ministry of Economy and Finance), the structure is the work of Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen. A true architectural feat, the arch is composed of prestressed concrete, anti-reflective glass, and Carrara and white marble. It sits on 12 pillars driven 30 meters into the ground to support a total mass of 30,000 tons. A 100-meter-long bridge crosses its summit at a height of 110 meters, and the structure features impressive panoramic elevators.
Initially named Grande Arche de la Fraternité, it quickly became known as the Grande Arche de la Défense. Complicated relationships between the designer, the project owner, and the various decision-making parties precipitated the departure of the architect, who died two years before his work was completed. Keeping the term fraternity, given the context, would have been ironic. If you have time, take a refreshing break or grab a snack at the restaurant La City - le Café, which is reached via a special access path.
Business district on the edge of Paris, the Arch offers a modern take on architecture. The neighborhood is buzzing with the flow of business people. This place offers a huge shopping mall (Les 4 Temps) for all you shopping addicts to treat yourselves. For the holidays, there is a nice Christmas market where you can enjoy some mulled wine and tartiflette.