1. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 Paris 3. La Défense. The CBD of Paris. Photographs: © Patricia Barry 2007

2. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 1 ► The name comes from the fierce and brave defence of the city by the Parisians in 1870 during the Franco- Prussian war.

3. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 1 ► In 1878, a competition was organised to design a monument dedicated to the defence of Paris in 1870. ► This sculpture by Barrias won. It depicts the city of Paris, with a boy and girl standing guard. It is located in the centre of the district. ► The sculpture reminds today’s Parisians of the heroism of those in the past.

4. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 2 ► La Défense covers an area of 2 million square mètres ► Every day, hundreds of thousands of workers come into the district to work in the shops, service centres and offices.

5. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 3 ► ► The design of La Défense was conceived en 1959 ► ► The architect was a Dane ► ► Construction of La Défense was completed in 1989 ► Many steps lead up to the lifts. To ascend, you have to pay

6. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 4 ► La Grande Arche of la Défense was conceived as the end of the visual perspective from l’Arc de Triomphe and the « Triumphal Way ».

7. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 5 ► Here, from the pavement, you can see the part of the Triumphal Way and L’Arc de Triomphe.

8. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 6 ► The view towards the north. ► “La voie triomphale ” continues towards Versailles.

9. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 7 ► It’s a town within a town ► There are hôtels ► The mulit-level station is a big interchange for the Metro, the RER and the SNCF trains (as well as a tramway)

10. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 8 ► There are huge office blocks.

11. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 9 ► View of the modern buildings from the pavement area

12. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 10 ► View to the north ► There are banks and administration offices here

13. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 11 ► There is a hyper- market called « Quatre Temps », (4 seasons) and hundreds of shops

14. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 12 ► There is under- ground parking for thousands of cars.

15. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 13 ► Another view of the pavement and artwork.

16. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 14 ► The buildings have reflective glass.

17. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 15 ► A vista of glass and metal. ► Below is the famous “Thumb” or “Le Pouce”.

18. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 16 ► “Le pouce” is a work by Cesar Baldacinni. ► The original was created in 1965 for an exhibition on the theme of « the hand ». ► It was the artist’s own thumb and measured only 40 cm in height.

19. (c) Patricia Barry 2007 La Défense 17 ► Cesar was invited to create a work for the central area of the CBD. He decided that he would enlarge “Le pouce” ► It now measures twelve mètres and weighs more than eighteen tonnes.