Symbolically guarding the western approach to the city, the Grande Arche
is both a recognition of tradition and a bold step towards the future.
From the arch's roof top (110m above ground), accessible by the exterior
lift, a marvellous view unfolds in a straight line along an axis to the
Arc de Triomphe and, beyond, to the Obelisk at La Concorde and to the Louvre,
extending the magnificent vista opened up by Le Notre. The arch was inaugurated
in 1989 for the bicentenary celebrations of the French Revolution and is
now a major tourist attraction. The stark simplicity of its architectural
outline and the materials used are definitely contemporary, while its sheer
size is a marvel of modern technology. The Danish architect, Otto von Spreckelsen,
built a perfect hollow concrete cube covered over with glass and white
Carrara marble. Steps lead up to the central platform, where the lifts
are to be found. The arch dominates a vast square, known as Le Parvis,
decorated with colourful sculptures, including a red 'stabile' by Calde,
and flanked by another remarkable building: the CNIT (Centre of New Industries
and Technology), shaped like an upside-down-shell, which serves mainly
as a conference centre but is also a pleasant meeting place for business
people. There are several cafes and a branch of the FNAC, the French equivalent
of Virgin stores, stocking a large selection of CDs covering a wide spectrum
of musical tastes. Opposite, there is a huge shopping centre known as
Les Quatre Temps, which has some of the best shopping bargains in Paris.
Its focal point is the vast hyper-market Auchan.
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