The Grande Arche de la Défense at sunset, Paris 20 Oct 2016
About this photo
This great structure, designed by Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, truly put Paris' business district of La Défense on the map when it was inaugurated in 1989.
From the steps of the arch, you can take in the Royal Axis that runs straight to the Arc de Triomphe, heads along the Champs-Elysées and Tuileries, and ends at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Louvre. The size of the arch is symbolic, measuring 100m by 100m (330 sp ft), the same dimensions of the Cour Carrée at the Louvre. But it's from the top that the vista truly impresses – the arch's viewing platform has been closed for security reasons for a few years now but is set to re-open in spring 2017.
So what are you waiting for? Travel on Insight Guides' Luxury Paris holiday and see the french capital city in all its splendour.
