Known simply as the Defense Arch, it is one of the representative symbols of the district in which it is located, which bears its name. Its creator was Otto von Spreckelsen, a Danish architect who developed it to present it in public competition in 1982. It was inaugurated in 1989 , in a massive event that took place in Paris to commemorate the bicentennial of the French Revolution.
It consists of a hollow cubic structure 110 meters high, 108 meters wide and 112 meters deep, resting on twelve pillars weighing some 300,000 tons. Some concrete beams and various insulators to absorb vibrations are the rest of the elements that make up this impressive structure.
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What to see in the arch of defense?
Among the main characteristics of this iconic building we must point out that it is absolutely aligned with the Arc de Triomphe and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. In fact, if you position yourself strategically in the Jardin des Tuileries, you can draw a line with your eyes that crosses the interior of the Arc du Carrousel, passes through the Arc de Triomphe and the Arc de la Defense and allows you to see the Champs de Elysées ! It is really impressive!
A conference room, an impressive vantage point from which you get fabulous views of Paris and a computer science museum is all that this building houses. There are also some government offices.
What you shouldn’t miss at the Grande Arche de la Defense is a walk around its grand terrace, the largest in Paris . It consists of a 100 m bridge from which you can get the best views of the city. You will be able to observe the most important buildings and monuments of the French capital and admire the beauty of one of the most popular European cities.
Location Great Arch of Defense
The Grande Arche de la Défense is located at number 1 Parvis de la Défense, in the district known as “la defense”.