landmark
DS World Paris
The striking automotive showroom and brand experience on the Champs-Élysées showcasing French automotive design and innovation.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeFranceÎle-de-France
La Defense
Île-de-France, France · Europe
About La Defense
La Defense works well as a base: 5 minutes from Levallois-Perret, 5km from DS World Paris.
La Defense is in Île-de-France, France, with about 20,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Levallois-Perret, about 4 km away.
La Défense station (French pronunciation: [la defɑ̃s]) is a station of the Transilien (Réseau Saint-Lazare) suburban rail lines, RER commuter rail network, Paris Métro, as well as a stop of the Île-de-France tram network. In the future, Paris Metro Line 15 of Grand Paris Express will pass through here, making it aRead more
huge railway hub. It is underneath the Grande Arche building in La Défense, the business district just west of Paris. The station is the western terminus of Métro Line 1 and connects the RER A line to the Métro Line 1 station since 1992, the Line 2 tramway since 1994 and SNCF (Transilien) train station. It is also attached to a major shopping centre. There are over 25 million entries and exits each year. A temporary special SNCF service began in April 1959 (1959-04) to serve the newly built Centre of New Industries and Technologies (CNIT); the RER entered service on 19 January 1970 (1970-01-19). The RER E station built under the CNIT opened on 6 May 2024.
Highlights on the surface nearby include the monumental Grande Arche, skyscrapers that host the headquarters of important French and foreign companies, and works of urban art such as Le Pouce by César Baldaccini. From the central esplanade the Arc de Triomphe can be seen further down the Axe historique. Until May 2004, this part of La Défense hosted an information centre of the European Union managed by the European Parliament. Like the district it serves, the station takes its name from the 19th-century statue La Défense de Paris, commemorating the Franco-Prussian War.
Where to Stay in La Defense
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near La Defense?
Within an hour or so of La Defense: DS World Paris (5 km), Arc de Triomphe (5 km), Atelier Renault (6 km), Eiffel Tower (6 km).
Are there any good drives near La Defense?
The nearest famous roads are Rouen-Les-Essarts.
Where is La Defense?
La Defense is in Île-de-France, France, about 4 km from Levallois-Perret.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 20,000
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Île-de-France
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 48.8920, 2.2388
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from La Defense
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Arc de Triomphe
Monumental triumphal arch honouring those who fought for France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.
5 km · about 10 min drive
cafe
Atelier Renault
Renault's flagship lifestyle space on the Champs-Élysées combining concept cars, a boutique, and a stylish cafe-restaurant.
6 km · about 10 min drive
landmark
Eiffel Tower
Iconic iron lattice tower built in 1889 that has become the most recognized symbol of Paris and France.
6 km · about 10 min drive
landmark
Champs-Élysées
World-famous tree-lined avenue stretching from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
6 km · about 10 min drive
museum
Musée de l'Orangerie
A jewel of a museum in the Tuileries housing Monet's monumental Water Lilies murals in two purpose-built oval rooms.
7 km · about 15 min drive
landmark
Palais Garnier
Lavish 19th-century opera house in Paris with its ornate facade, grand staircase, and Chagall-painted ceiling.
7 km · about 15 min drive
landmark
Moulin Rouge
Legendary Parisian cabaret with its iconic red windmill, birthplace of the modern can-can dance since 1889.
7 km · about 15 min drive
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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