La Défense, Paris
A brief visit to the pedestrian plaza and transportation hub of
La Défense, the trendy business suburb of
Paris.
La Défense is a planned community in which cars, trains, and buses have been banished to underground tunnels and terminals, leaving the open street level to pedestrians. The area got off to a slow start decades ago, but has grown in prestige and popularity and is now one of the most expensive business districts in
Europe.
It's a nice place to work, especially at lunchtime, when everyone comes out onto the plaza! At night, though, it's deserted.
This video shows the plaza and some of its best known buildings, including the
CNIT,
Grande Arche, etc. It also takes a look at the vast underground transportation complex beneath the plaza (7:30).