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Starting point and access: La Défense-Grande Arche station.
- RER - Line A.
- Transilien - Line L or U.
- Metro - Line 1.
- Tram - Line T2.
Take exit 1 Grande Arche or exit 2 Dôme / Valmy, which leads to the forecourt at the foot of the Grande Arche.
There are numerous pedestrian signposts along this route. The names of the towers (usually those of the companies housed there) are displayed in large letters high up and are good landmarks. Along the route, you will come across yellowPR® markings from time to time: unless otherwise indicated, ignore them.
(S) Climb the stairs of the Grande Arche, pass under the building, enjoy the views to the east and then to the west, and descend the stairs on the other side. At the bottom, turn left. Then turn right towards Valmy. At the crossroads a few metres further on, turn left into Cours Valmy.
N.B. If access to the stairs is closed (due to construction work, for example), go around the Grande Arche on the left and come out at the entrance to Cours Valmy.
(1) Continue straight ahead to the foot of the Société Générale Tower. Then go around the tower on the left, taking a footbridge towards the Immeuble Basalte. At the end (viewpoint over the Nanterre Cloud Towers), turn left and go down a staircase to a street. Then turn right at the hairpin bend, cross Boulevard des Bouvets at the pedestrian crossing and immediately turn left onto Rue des Longues Raies. Turn right and climb the stairs leading to the foot of the Granite Tower (which also houses Société Générale).
(2) Continue along the Passerelle Valmy footbridge (information about nearby buildings; Puteaux cemetery below on the left). At the end of the footbridge, turn left, ignore the ramp down to the left, go under a porch and you will come out at Place de l'Hémicycle. Then turn right onto Passage des Trois Places towards the Kupka Tower, cross Place Ronde, which is covered with a kind of rose window, and you will find yourself back on Cours de Valmy.
(1) Cross the street, pass under the Pacific Tower and climb the stairs towards the Kupka Tower. Take the Japan Bridge, a glass footbridge that spans the boulevards (view of the Grande Arche on the left). Pass under the Kupka Tower, then turn left onto Rue Hoche towards the Axe de la Défense. Keep left, pass through a barrier and take the Passerelle du Couchant. At the crossroads, turn left, still towards the Axe de la Défense. Leave the Dome on your left, then first turn right then left to go down the stairs to the forecourt at the foot of the Grande Arche.
(S) Continue straight ahead, walking alongside the Grande Arche on your left. Cross an area with small columns connected by metal rods (Utsurohi) and turn right towards the Pouce du sculpteur César. Walk alongside the CNIT on your right towards the Tour Séquoia. Go down a ramp towards Avenue de la Division Leclerc. Before the escalators on the left, turn right towards Coupole/Regnault and take a footbridge (under construction in January 2018 but accessible).
At the end of the footbridge, turn right immediately and walk along the CB3 Tower on your left. At the corner, turn left, walk along a pond with a sculpture on your right, and arrive at Place Henri Regnault, at the foot of the Total Tower.
(3) Turn right and walk between the Areva Tower (all black) on your right and the dome on your left. Climb the stairs towards the Défense axis and the Jules Vernes Terminal. Walk under a small building and you will come out at Esplanade Charles de Gaulle (red metal sculpture on the right, police station on the left).
Continue straight ahead, walking along the lawn on your right. At the end, turn left and walk past the foot of the EDF Tower and then the Atlantique Tower. At the foot of the Opus12 Tower, go down the stairs on your left and you will find yourself back on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle. Then turn right, pass the monument in homage to the defence of Paris and note the rounded Tour Coeur de Défense on your left. Continue along the esplanade, note the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in the background and walk to a gazebo with benches.
(4) Then turn left towards Corolles/Vosges. Climb a staircase and take the Passerelle des Reflets footbridge. Pass under the CBX-Dexia Tower and enjoy the view. Retrace your steps back to the arbour.
(4) Continue straight ahead, leaving the arbour on your right and heading towards Michelet. Leave the residential buildings on your right, turn left and go down a series of steps. When you reach Cours Michelet (Morris column), turn left towards Axe de la Défense and walk past a restaurant on your left.
At the corner of a bank branch and opposite a large metal sculpture, climb the stairs on the left towards the Esplanade du Général de Gaulle. At the top, turn right and you will find the esplanade (colourful sculpture). Follow the esplanade to the right with the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in full view. Continue to a second arbour (Allianz-Athéna Tower on your right, CB21 Tower - green - on your left). Then turn left to the foot of the CB21 Tower.
(5) Go straight towards Alsace and walk along the CB21 Tower on your right. Take the Iris Footbridge and arrive at Place des Miroirs (colourful mosaic sculptures). Retrace your steps.
(5) After passing Tower CB21 (signposted "Esplanade Nord"), turn left towards Pont de Neuilly. Walk along the right-hand side of a pond with metal sculptures (Bassin de Takis). At the end of the pond, turn left and take a footbridge towards Pont de Neuilly (yellow markings). Walk along the left-hand side of the First Tower (Euler-Hermes) and continue towards Pont de Neuilly. At the end of the footbridge, turn left and take Pont de Neuilly over the Seine.
(6) In the middle of the bridge, take an opening in the railings on the left and go down to the right into Square de l'Île du Pont. Walk around the square in an anti-clockwise direction and enjoy the views of the banks of the Seine and the La Défense district. Climb the stairs to reach the bridge.
(6) Continue along the bridge to the left towards Neuilly. At the end of the bridge, continue along Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Cross Rue Blaise Pascal and then Rue Ybry. Walk past a bus station and you will find the Pont de Neuilly metro station on your right (E).
To return home:
- Metro - Line 1, towards La Défense or Château de Vincennes.
Visorando member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
