It is named for a statue, La Défense de Paris, commemorating the defence of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. The name of the area sometimes causes confusion with foreigners, who assume it has something to do with the military.
|
|
The image shows the plaza looking to the East (towards Paris). The first building on the left is the CNIT. |
As part of the project to complete the Axe historique, a large monument was built at the western end of the district, the Grande Arche.
At the western end is a large transport interchange, built aound and over the railway station which predates the modern development. It includes a bus station, the terminus of the T1 tram line, a station on RER line A, and the terminus of Line 1 of the Paris Metro, "La Défense (Grande Arche)". Line 1 also has a station at the eastern end nearer to Paris, "Esplanade de La Défense".