La Défense

Welcome to a radically different vision of the French capital. You have just stepped off the Metro and emerged into Lah Day-fawns, a sprawling forest of glass and steel skyscrapers that stands as a stark, thrilling contrast to…

Let us begin our exploration by walking down the center of the massive, paved esplanade. This vast pedestrian zone is the structural spine of Lah Day-fawns, essentially acting as a concrete river around which the towering cliffs…

As we continue our walk along the esplanade, you will quickly notice that you are not just navigating a business district; you are walking through a phenomenal open air modern art gallery. This incredible integration of art and…

Let us pause our forward momentum and turn around to look back in the direction from which we came, eastward toward the center of Paris. If you find a clear sightline down the middle of the esplanade, you will be looking directly…

Turning our attention back to the immediate surroundings, let us delve deeper into the specific architectural ethos of the skyscrapers themselves. Unlike the strictly regulated, uniform height of the Haussmann style buildings in…

We now approach the absolute climax of our tour through Lah Day-fawns. Looming majestically at the western terminus of the grand esplanade is La Grande Arche, the undisputed centerpiece of this entire ambitious complex. …

Standing directly beneath the colossal canopy of the Grande Arche, the true, mind boggling scale of the structure becomes entirely apparent. It is difficult for the human brain to accurately process dimensions of this magnitude…

As our exploration of Lah Day-fawns comes to a close, I encourage you to find a comfortable spot on the grand steps beneath the Grande Arche and look back across the sprawling esplanade. We have experienced a side of Paris that…