Grande Arche Arche de la Défense
The Grande Arche is a triumphal arch, skyscraper, and office building in the La Défense district of Paris. Designed by Johan Otto von Spreckelsen and Erik Reitzel, the 111 m high and 112 m long structure opened in 1989. It is recognized as Remarkable Contemporary Architecture and is one of the 125 sights in France looked up on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The site is 9 km from Paris and 20 km from Paris-Orly Airport. It is wheelchair accessible. Opening hours are 10:00-23:00 from April 1 to September 30, and 10:00-19:00 from October 1 to December 31 or January 2 to March 31.
The weather is warmest in July and August, when daily highs reach 24 °C. The coldest months are January and December, with daily highs of 7 °C. Rain is frequent throughout the year, with the highest monthly rainfall occurring in October (66 mm) and December (62 mm). Nearby attractions include Plenitude Arena (0.6 km), the Louis Vuitton Foundation (2.7 km), Musée Marmottan Monet (4.4 km), the Arc de Triomphe (4.8 km), and Palais de Chaillot (5.1 km).
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 24 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 7 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 54 | 44 | 50 | 49 | 62 | 52 | 57 | 51 | 46 | 66 | 51 | 62 |
| Rainy days | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
