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Post by annettecinca on Jul 28, 2007 21:14:37 GMT -5
Can you go to the top of the Grande Arche at La Defense? (I think I've read somewhere that you can) It's an office building, right? Do you just make yourself at home and find the elevator? Is there an outdoor observation deck?
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Post by GitteK on Jul 28, 2007 23:51:17 GMT -5
AnnetteCinCa You can certainly go to the top of the Grande Arche. The elevators are BIG fun, as the ride is outdoors and you ride up into the "roof" from beneath. What look like "wires" in the middle, are the glass elevators. You do not just "make yourself at home" as you will have to pay 9 euros per person (adult) to get up. www.grandearche.com/FR/informations_pratiques/Inside the place seems very oddly deserted somehow ? We had to walk around a bit until we found the topfloor. There is a kiosk where you can buy souvenirs and postcards etc. and then there are a broad outdoors flight of stairs (with rather high steps, not very comfortable) up to the observation deck. Well worth a visit, not least because of it's Danish architect........  |
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 0:07:31 GMT -5
Excellent info, Gitte--thank you very much! We admired the structure during one of our last trips, but got sidetracked by the Christmas market in front and ran out of time before investigating whether we could go to the top or not. Now that I sort of know the "ropes", we'll probably visit again and go to the top.
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 0:10:27 GMT -5
PS I'll ask my husband what he knows about the architect!
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Post by geordy on Jul 29, 2007 7:58:54 GMT -5
And in reference to another thread....at the souvenir shop they sell scarves , not at all "cheesy" or tacky...  they have the arc on them but the design is sort of muted and abstract in the colors so if you don't know what it is, you wouldn't know what it is!  Very pretty, mine is sort of pinkish/rose/gray in the long rather than square version. |
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 10:50:26 GMT -5
Oooh, Geordy, that's cool to know! Hubby can check out the building, I can shop! |
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Post by iank9 on Jul 29, 2007 10:56:08 GMT -5
The last time we were at the Grande Arche, there was an art exhibition on the top floor, some of which was devoted to the rescue effort in NYC on 9/11 - very moving. The views from the top are very dramatic and well worth the stress of the lift ride  |
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 11:35:46 GMT -5
The views from the top are very dramatic and well worth the stress of the lift ride Fill us in, Ian! Is the elevator a bit unnerving? |
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Post by iank9 on Jul 29, 2007 11:54:52 GMT -5
Yes Although it's not to do with heights. An inner secret. I have a recurring nightmare of being in a particular lift (in a car park) and the lift races(and I mean races) to the top and................ I wake up sweating just before the lift crashes through the roof! It takes a lot for me to get in a lift, and yet I put myself through it for different experiences. A meal at the Jules Verne, the view from the terrace at the Hotel Sonloup above Vevey, The Burswood Casino, Perth all worthwhile but terrifying at the same time! |
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Post by GitteK on Jul 29, 2007 13:24:50 GMT -5
Oh, poor dear ! Take your woofers to bed with you, they will comfort you when you wake up from that scary dream.
My travel companions last October were also a bit nervous about going up through the hole in the roof - so you are not alone in this.
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 20:42:14 GMT -5
I have a recurring nightmare of being in a particular lift (in a car park) and the lift races(and I mean races) to the top and................ I wake up sweating just before the lift crashes through the roof! Thank goodness you wake up before it hits the top!!! I don't blame you for stressing a little in elevators, with dreams like that  |
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Post by rssilverandlight on Dec 14, 2007 17:44:04 GMT -5
demarais & pkpiupiu - Of course you can go up in the Grand Arch but if you are at all into photography it is a marvelous location for interesting shapes and reflecting surfaces. You can increase the impact of your photographs using a wide angle lens.  |
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grndma
Full Member
55 days to go, (7 weeks 5days 1hours 240minutes on 21st may 2008 08.05hrs)
Posts: 181
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Post by grndma on Apr 20, 2008 12:32:45 GMT -5
The Grande Arche la Defence is my favourite "high" place to visit and the view is stunning. The lift is glass and on the outside. Not for the fainthearted. I comforted myself that it is a modern structure, unlike the Eiffel tower and therfore safe. There has always been a exhibition of some sort at the top. when we visited. No Queues, great way to get an Ariel view of Paris.
Denise
Love from England
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they have the arc on them but the design is sort of muted and abstract in the colors so if you don't know what it is, you wouldn't know what it is! 
hahahha