The Major Axis (Axe Majeur), an emblematic and unmissable site in Cergy-Pontoise, Val-d'Oise, is intended to echo the Axe Historique (a line of buildings extending west from the Champs-Élysées in Paris).
Dotted with gardens and sculptures, this 3.2-kilometre walk between plateau, hillside and river was designed in 1980 by the urban planner Michel Jaouën and the Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan. The monumental work, which skilfully integrates art into the landscape, was awarded the Remarkable Contemporary Architecture label in 2022.
The Belvedere Tower standing 36 metres tall, the Esplanade de Paris and its twelve white columns, the Terrace and its flight of steps, the striking red footbridge, the Pyramid and its natural spectacle of sound and light, the Orchard of the Impressionists and the Amphitheatre: each of the twelve stops along the way paints a symbolic picture that connects the real with the imaginary.
This internationally renowned site, which has served as a location for many film shoots, music videos and advertisements, also offers walkers, sports enthusiasts and photographers an exceptional panoramic view of Paris and the loops of the River Oise!