La Défense

It is named for a statue, La Défense de Paris, commemorating the defence of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. The name of the area sometimes causes confusion with foreigners, who assume it has something to do with the military.

As part of the project to complete the Axe historique, a large monument was built at the western end of the district, the Grande Arche.

At the western end is a large transport interchange, built aound and over the railway station which predates the modern development. It includes a bus station, the terminus of the T1 tram line, a station on RER line A, and the terminus of Line 1 of the Paris Metro, "La Défense (Grande Arche)". Line 1 also has a station at the eastern end nearer to Paris, "Esplanade de La Défense".