Nanterre, Administrative center in western Paris suburbs, France
Nanterre is a commune in the western suburban area of Paris, home to parts of the La Défense business district with its office towers and corporate headquarters. The city spreads along the Seine, connecting denser built-up quarters with green spaces and university buildings.
The settlement began as Nemetodorum during Roman rule, evolving from a Celtic shrine into a key administrative center. In the 20th century the city transformed through the expansion of Parisian suburbs and the arrival of major corporations in the La Défense area.
The name comes from the Celtic Nemeto-duron, meaning sacred enclosure, a reminder of its pre-Roman past. Today the city serves as the seat of the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture, with administrative offices standing beside modern residential neighborhoods.
Three RER A stations—Nanterre-Préfecture, Nanterre-Université, and Nanterre-Ville—offer direct connections to central Paris and surrounding areas. Pedestrians and cyclists find paths along the Seine that link different parts of the city.
The Paris Nanterre University campus served as the starting point for the May 1968 student protests that later swept across France. This campus remains a lively hub for thousands of students studying humanities and social sciences.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
