Paris, La Défense
Only a ten minute metro trip from the centre of Paris, La Défense
- nicknamed 'Paris Manhattan' - is actually on a different planet
altogether.
It is a vast, skyscraping business district with more than 130.000
people working at 3.600 companies, but attracts travellers and shoppers
as well, especially at the weekends.
Among the 60 skyscrapers, Grande Arche is the most stunning structure.
Grand Arche is at the western end of the 8km/5m long 'Grand Axe' stretching
from Louvre's pyramid through the Arc de Triomphe to La Défense.
It has superb view of Paris from the top floor, accessed by glass
lifts.
Check out some of the 70 open air art works scattered around the valleys
between the office mountains, including Calder, Miró, Serra
and Ceasar's 'Thumb'.
Picture by Ikuko Koga