Why Nanterre
Nanterre is a French municipality serving as the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department. Situated approximately 11 kilometers northwest of central Paris, this western suburban community accommodates nearly 98,000 residents, who are locally referred to as Nanterriens or Nanterrois.
Historically, the area holds significant archaeological importance. Excavations conducted between 1994 and 2005 uncovered a third-century BC Gallic necropolis alongside ancient residential structures along the Seine in the northwestern area of the town. Spanning over 15 hectares, these findings suggest the site may have been a major pre-Roman or Roman-era settlement for the Parisii tribe, offering an alternative candidate for the original location of Lutetia described by Julius Caesar in 50 BC. Additionally, Nanterre is recognized as the birthplace of Sainte Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who was born there in the fifth century.
Modern Nanterre is notable for hosting part of La Défense, a major corporate business district positioned along its eastern boundary near Courbevoie and Puteaux. This section features some of the tallest structures in the Paris region and houses the corporate headquarters of major entities, including Société Générale, Groupe du Louvre, and Louvre Hôtels. Because of the density of corporate offices in La Défense, the local court in Nanterre frequently handles high-profile legal proceedings. The municipality is also home to Paris West University Nanterre La Défense, which stands as one of the largest educational institutions in the region.
Visitors to Nanterre can observe unique architectural landmarks such as the pyramid-shaped Hôtel de Ville, which was completed in 1973. For sports and entertainment, the city features the Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez, home to the Nanterre 92 basketball team. Another major venue is the Plenitude Arena, originally opened in 2017 and also known as U Arena and Paris La Défense Arena. Used by the Racing 92 rugby union club, the facility accommodates 32,000 spectators for sports matches and up to 40,000 guests for concerts and major events.
Transit to and around Nanterre is facilitated by extensive rail connections. The area is served by three stations on the RER A line: Nanterre-Préfecture, Nanterre-Université, and Nanterre-Ville. The Nanterre-Université stop additionally acts as an interchange for the Transilien Paris-Saint-Lazare suburban rail route.
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