Hello,
I don%26#39;t mean to be one of those annoying TA members, I have done research! I know where, when and how much!
What I need to know is has anyone been on the tour, I know you can go to the top on its fancy lift but what can you see from the top? I have found loads of pictures but none from the top!
Sounds silly but going out to the xmas market so thought might go up and have a look - but what at???
I don%26#39;t expect to see as much as from say, montmartre, printempts or montparnasse (and mum won%26#39;t go up the tower again says was built from mechano and was only supposed to be up a little while so can%26#39;t be safe! She doesn%26#39;t like heights but is okish if its a solid building)
Can any one shed any light on this for me?
Thanks in advance!
Joanne
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If you mean La Defense just hop on the metro. Buy your ticket there.
A nearer place to get a good view over Paris is the Montparnasse Tower.
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Hello,
Since you are obviously not one of the ignorant know-alls who haunt the French forum it is a pleasure to answer your question.
The Grande Arche is more of a curiosity than anything else. If you are aware of the topography of the Western part of Paris you must know the Arc de Triomphe stands on a hill which means the Eastern part of Paris remains mostly invisible. As the eyes move West from the Arc, you can see the XIXth %26amp; XXth C buildings of the Western arrondissements of Paris, the Bois de Boulogne, Neuilly (XXth C), Levallois (XX C) to the North, then the Seine, then Courbevoie to the North %26amp; Puteaux to the South then as you turn West the suburbs stretching to St Germain and its royal palace %26amp; park. It is only interesting (to my mind) if you have a map with you and want to understand the topography of Western Paris. I%26#39;d certainly not drag your mother to this fairly indifferent view).
However and this is only interesting to historians, town planners %26amp; architects, the Arche is part of the Royal Western perspective which some people say starts from the altar of Notre-Dame or from the Royal Appartments in the Louvre. Each ruler added in his turn on this axis: Tuileries (Queen Catherine de Medici, XVIth), pavillon de Marsan (Louis XIV then Napoleon I), Carrousel (Napoleon I), jardin des Tuileries, place de la Concorde (mostly 18th C, Egyptian obelisk from Luxor erected under King Louis-Philippe), Champs Elysées, Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées, Champs-Elysées again, Arc de Triomphe (started by Napoléon I finished by King Louis-Philippe), then avenue de La Grande-Armée, porte Maillot, avenue de Neuilly, parvis de la Défense (started in the 1960%26#39;s). Prés. Mitterand who had a sense of history and of his personal aggrandisement erected two monuments on this axis : the Pyramids (4 + 1) of the Louvre AND the Grande Arche. The latter created some discontent among specialists of old Paris because it appears to block the Royal perspective--hence symbolically proclaiming the end of French history.
If this aspect is of interest to you you should go--otherwise if you are an art lover and do not visit museums just so you can tell your friends, I%26#39;d recommend
--the stupendous Picasso museum in the Marais (4th arrond.),
--the fairly unknown hence quiet musée Jacquemart-André (8th arrond.) which among other treasures has several exceptional Rembrandts and a magnificent collection of Italian paintings (sublime Mantegnas),
--the beautiful and fairly quiet Rodin museum (7th arrond.),
--the very interesting musée Nissim de Camondo (18th C furniture--a very moving place since the whole family was murdered in Auschwitz--the last heir bequeathed the collections to France though the French police had made the arrests),
--the musée Carnavalet which has interesting period rooms (the V %26amp; A model) and gives a good idea of the history of Paris,
--the recently and magnificently renovated Musée des Arts décoratifs, rue de Rivoli, etc.
The vast majority of these museums tend to be quiet--no queues. The Louvre and Orsay museums are impossible in summer and there are paintings %26amp; sculptures which are just as beautiful though less known elsewhere. If you know the Frick collection in NYC, Jacquemart André is one of the models (though far less crowded).
If you have more questions, fire away.
FW
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The view from the Grande Arche is not bad (depending on the weather, of course) - as you can see on a map, the Grande Arche was built on the axis formed by the Avenue de la Grande Armée, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées, Tuileries, and the Louvre.
I%26#39;m not sure that someone who%26#39;s afraid to climb the Eiffel tower will want to use the lift of the Grande Arche - it%26#39;s very transparant which is probably scary to some people...
At this moment (until October 8th 2007) there is also an exhibition (%26quot;50 years of information technology%26quot;) on the roof of the Grande Arche.
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Some people say the La Defense is the best place to be, because you can%26#39;t see it from there.
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Been there a few times, i am scared of height and the lift is very impactful, i didn%26#39;t like it, although if you are not scared of height, that lift is the most interesting thing about the grande Arche.
The view is not spectacular, or only for the western suburbs, among Paris monuments you can just see the Arc de Triomphe so it is VERY limited.
I have been dozens of times to the Eiffel tower (also not nice for people scared of height) but to me the best best view was Montparnasse tower : no lines, better views and not so impressive for someone scared of heights.
I would not recommend the Grande Arche for the view
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La Defense Arche is mildly interesting as a piece of architecture -- and the elevator is pretty nifty but not for those afraid of heights -- but the view is not worth the trip out there IMHO -- perhaps on a very clear day
the best view might be from the hideous Montparnasse Tower -- and I%26#39;ve always loved the view from Notre Dame -- and the view from Sacre Couer doesn%26#39;t involve towers or glass elevators and so is perfect for the height averse --
I wouldn%26#39;t put La Defense high on my list of places to go --
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Hello again Joanne
As suggested by another member the Tour Montparnasse is the better alternative
http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/
The view from the towers of Notre Dame is not bad either but the queue can be very long and there is no lift.
The Sacré-Coeur is nice too but you have to walk upon the hill to the little funicular railway.
www.montmartrenet.com/article.php…
FW
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Thanks for all your replys!
I%26#39;ve managed to get mum up Montparnasse already, we%26#39;ve been to scare coeur and printempts terrass so not done too bad (my Dad managed to get her up eiffel tower and mont blanc! so way better at talking her around than me! He also got her across the %26#39;bridge in the clouds%26#39; in france-forgotten its name, but its really high!)
I have persuaded her to go up Arc de Triumph next visit, so may be the Grande arche is an Arche too far!
One of the reasons I facied going up is my husband collects the madalion/medal things and I think the gift shop is that top - is this right? Do you know if there is one of the coin operated machines you can buy them from at the bottom?
Thanks again for your help, not seem like we%26#39;d be missing too much, just possible a cheap souvenir for my husband!
Thanks in advance for any news on machines/gift shop!
Joanne
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Do you mean military medals? Because there is a famous shop under the gallery of the Palais Royal (West side) that sells Legions of Honour, not to mention other shops where you can buty new/second hand military decorations.
FW
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Thanks FW!
But no, they%26#39;re nothing that exotic or expensive!
He collects the monnaie de Paris coins that you find at the sights/monuments eg. montparnasse, champs-elysees, chateau des comtes, carnac, carcassone, chateau d%26#39;angers and col du pas peyrol.
They usually cost a few euros each, some from gift shops, others from a sort of vending machine.
Thanks as always for your help FW!
Joanne
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