La Defence

The major business district on the outskirts of Paris, crammed full of more skyscrapers than you can shake a stick at. Dont be confused, its not some military outpost (its named after the statue of the defence of Paris in the middle of the district). The focal point of the area is the 100-meter high Grande Arche, a huge, futuristic archway aligned with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance. Around the Grande Arche and esplanade ("le Parvis"), the district holds many of the Paris urban area's tallest high-rises. Maybe that does not sound exciting, but there is also enough shopping, restaurants and public events to keep the most ardent architecture hater entertained.