An interesting fact about La Defense is that from the
Place de la Concorde it looks to be completely hidden by the
Arc de Triomphe - it was deliberately designed on such a
scale as to seem the same size. Quite a
nifty effect. Looking in the other direction, one can get a detailed and quite
spectacular view of most of central
Paris from the
telescopes located on the viewing platform on the roof of the structure. It is
quite high, so not for the
fainthearted - the
capsule lifts are shit-scary, too, even for those not usually afraid of heights.
The building itself is staggeringly white, with reflective window panes and a white-paved platform and steps. This gives the illusion, even from a relatively small distance, of uniformity of texture, camouflaging the fact that the arch is an office building. It stands on an elevated platform which is reached by a wide staircase. I'm not sure what the maths of this is, but they are built on such an angle that they are impossible to see from the top until one is practically on them. The effect is very much of striding confidently towards the edge of an abyss. Again, it can be very scary, but also quite invigorating.
A last fond memory, the area below and around the arch is full of office buildings and amusement complexes, and spotted here and there with statuary. Our favourite was a giant (probably 8 or 10 meter high) bronze thumb sticking out of the ground in the left hand corner, complete with exact details of nail, cuticle and skin folds.