La Defense, the most important business district of Paris, as seen from the Arc de Triomph.
One of the weird things about European cities is that they basically don’t have skylines. The general explanation for this is that many European cities have been founded in medieval times and the city lay-outs in general are still organized according to 15th century urban planning. Little alleys, curved streets, bridges and canals don’t leave to many open space suitable for building skyscrapers.
For 2 reasons this explanation does not fully compute. First, there are hundres of cities in Asia that all have medieval (and sometimes much older) city lay-outs and are host to some of the most modern skyscrapers of the world. Second, many European cities suffered much from the second world war, leaving vast open areas in many downtown areas. Whatever the reasons for the lack of skyscrapers in European cities, there are 2 cities on the continent that have attempted to create serious skylines, Frankfurt and Paris.
Indeed, Paris, the city of romance we all want to see because of its 19th century boulevards, its medieval squares with French painters, its historical palaces and museums. Paris is host to what probably is the most modern skyline of the European continent. How did Paris manange to do so without damaging the historical qualities that people appreciate so much?
The pulled the trick by enlarging the historical axis that originally was only designed to connect the Louvre to the Arc de Triomph. It was all done during the precidency of Francois Mitterand during the 1980’s. Mitterand decided he wanted to be remembered as the French president that gave Paris a new modern grandeur. Well he sure managed to do so! One of the great works, being built on his behalf was adding 3 miles to the historical axis that now ends in La Defense. La Defense has gradually become the most modern business, conference and shopping district of Paris and France. La Defense is host to about all of the tallest buildings of France. About 140.00 people work and 30.000 people live in La Defense. Although many of the people of Paris were very much against the development of a concentration of skyscrapers on such a scale in Paris, La Defense has now become are very popular area for shopping and going out, La Defense even has become one of the major tourist attractions that now competes with the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre for the visitors attention.
Central square of La Defense in Paris. The square is surrounded by the tallest skyscrapers of France.
The “Elf” Tower in La Defense, one of the tallest buildings of Paris.