john183

We are going to Paris soon and while researching things to do we have found that the roof of La Grande Arche de la Défense was closed in April of 2010. Some articles said it was closed permanently, others said for four years and another said it was due to reopen in 2017 - but I do not see that it has been reopened now. I'm pretty sure it is still closed but does anyone know for sure? Thanks.

pariswat

http://www.grandearche.com/article81.html

It says it is open - I didn't know myself...

You can also have a glass of wine (9€ ...) at 19th floor of the new Hotel Melia. Nice view on Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.

kerouac

It will not reopen until 2017. I am amazed that there is a website that says it is open. It was only about 2 or 3 months ago that they started talking about reopening it again. The main problem is that there is no 'tenant' on the roof level to draw people there. Back when it was open, almost nobody went there, and I have to admit that I found the view quite disappointing (but that is more because they had not really optimized the viewpoint possibilities -- the viewing platform was too far back from the edge so you couldn't even look down at the plaza properly). They need some sort of 'attraction' that will make people go there -- a museum or a major exhibition center. We'll see what happens as 2017 approaches.

pariswat

Can't trust a French, can you ?
The glass of wine at hotel Melia is possible, I was there 2 days ago - great sight. At Esplanade de la Défense, not the 'Arche'.

john183

pariswat - We saw that web site but figured it had to be wrong because every other site said it was closed. Thanks for letting me know about a glass of wine at the Hotel Melia.

kerouac - thanks for the info. Hope they find a way to develop something interesting and get it reopened. It just seems like the view would be really nice from up there.

roofingrogernc

Perfect. I´d like to see that on my trip to Paris (spring 2016).

kerouac

At the upcoming Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), they are going to open the tops of some of the skyscrapers at La Défense to the public -- but you have to sign up ahead of time on the Defacto website.

manouche

There was an article in today's paper that confirmed what Kerouac said - the Grande Arche will only be open during the Journees du Patrimoine this weekend and only for those who have reserved ahead.

They hope to open in 2017 but have to replace all the deteriorated marble panels, change the elevators which currently do not work in bad weather, make the area accesible to those with mobility issues, as well as finding someone to run a restaurant that will have no view whatsoever. The view will be from an exterior walkway instead.

PalenQ

I went long ago when first opened - a Mitterand project as they called the spate of modern buildings and parks his government encouraged to renew Paris - the huge block is nice enough and the view even though limited like kerouac says was still compelling - straight down the Champs-Elysees to the Tuileries gardens - all sloping down hill it seemed.

Can't figure why there couldn't be a neat restaurant up there - I would not go out of my way to do it if a first-time visitor to Paris but it has its plusses. One of Paris' largest commercial centers - shopping malls in right near by.

I don't find La Defnese particularly well planned or attractive overall as Paris' version of the London Docklands - if interested in new planned cities check out Cergy-la-Pontoise nearby - new town of the 80s or so built to look like a traditional French town in its center - rather interesting.