A green haven in the south of Paris
The unspoiled departmental estate Vallée-aux-Loups, a certified ecological green space, features an arboretum, a wooded park with high forests and thickets interspersed with vast clearings, and the home of romantic writer Chateaubriand.
The Arboretum, a collection of natural wonders
The Arboretum presents collections of botanical rarities, divided into themed gardens over 13 hectares. A weeping Atlas cedar, which is the only one of its kind in the world and is classified as a “remarkable tree”, occupies an area of more than 680 m2, not to mention the national collection of Convolvulaceae, recognised by the French Conservatory of specialised plant collections. It is also possible to discover 66 bonsais. Listed in the inventory of picturesque sites, this enchanting place reveals the charm of its landscaped garden with its features (bridge, grotto, exotic pavilion) that characterised garden art in the 19th century
Guided tours.
www.hauts-de-seine.fr
Tél: 01 41 13 03 83
Chateaubriand’s house and park, a shrine to Romanticism
The house of the writer François-René de Chateaubriand honours the memory of its illustrious owner and has the atmosphere of a romantic chartreuse cultivating a taste for hospitality. The house, with its authentic decor, furniture and collections, evokes memories of the writer and his work. The landscaped park and its remarkable species tell of the discoveries made by the great traveller that Chateaubriand was.
Guided tours and events.
Refreshments: Les Thés Brillants
Shop
www.vallee-aux-loups.hauts-de-seine.fr
Tél: 01 55 52 13 00
Culture valley, an architectural laboratory
Paris La Défense, the Grande Arche and Paris La Defence Arena
Europe’s leading business district, Paris La Défense presents an incredible panorama of the architecture of recent decades. From the CNIT, inaugurated in 1958, to the most recent constructions, dozens of vertiginous towers built around the esplanade form a skyline that is unique in France. In an extension of the historic Paris axis, visitors can discover the Grande Arche and access the rooftop, which offers an exceptional view over Paris. The recent Paris La Défense Arena, designed by Christian de Portzamparc, is both an avant-garde stage and a state-of-the-art sports venue, accommodating up to 40,000 spectators
Paris La Défense is a cultural territory, which is unparalleled in the world and has the largest collection of contemporary works of art representative of the major artistic movements of the 20th century.
Restaurants
200 stores in the shopping centre Les 4 temps and in the CNIT
Cinemas
Events
Guided tours
www.parisladefense.fr
Tél : 01 46 93 19 00
Tours of the district:www.exploreparis.com
Tour of the Grande Arche rooftop: www.lagrandearche.fr,
Tél: 01 40 90 52 20
www.parisladefense-arena.com
Designed by architects Shigeru Ban (Pritzker Prize) and Jean de Gastines, La Seine Musicale is the new emblem of the Hauts-de-Seine Culture Valley. Its curves follow the shape of the Ile Seguin (Boulogne) downstream tip and play on the reflections of the water: the wooden shell of the auditorium seems to float on the river. A large sail lined with solar panels follows the sun’s movements. The Seine Musicale is thought of as a part of the city dedicated to all music types. The 1,150-seat auditorium, dedicated to unamplified music, has exceptional acoustics. The Grande Salle, for contemporary music, can welcome between 4,000 and 6,000 spectators.
Guided tours: www.cultival.fr
Restaurants: www.laseinemusicale.com/fr/
Tel: 01 74 34 53 53
The 1930s walking tour in Boulogne
A walk through “the city of modern times” allows you to discover a unique set of creations by Le Corbusier, Mallet-Stevens, Perret, Tony Garnier, etc. Public buildings, blocks of flats, artists’ studios and individual houses testify to the new architectural language invented by these pioneers. The Museum of the 1930s offers a wonderful reminder of this successful period for art.
Self-tours or guided tours
www.otbb.org
Tél: 01 41 41 54 58
La Cité – Jardin de Suresnes
At the beginning of the 20th century, a widespread social housing policy was established in France with the arrival of the English concept of garden cities. These cities constitute true utopias: they were often built in green surroundings and addressed the hygiene concerns of the time. La Cité-Jardin de Suresnes, built between 1921 and 1939 is the largest in Europe.
Guided tours
[email protected]
Tél: 01 42 04 41 47
[email protected]
Tél: 01 41 18 18 75