Tour France, Residential skyscraper in La Défense, France
Tour France is a 126-metre residential skyscraper on the quai De Dion-Bouton in Puteaux, on the banks of the Seine in the La Défense business district. Its cylindrical off-white concrete facade is wrapped in closely stacked horizontal bands of windows and balconies running unbroken around the curve up to a flat, unadorned roof. It is the second-tallest residential building in Île-de-France after Tour Défense 2000.
The tower was designed in 1973 by architect Jean de Mailly as part of early residential development in La Défense. Its construction represented a shift toward creating mixed-use neighborhoods where people could live alongside commercial areas.
The tower's name comes from the Quai de Dion-Bouton address on the Seine in Puteaux. Singer Gilbert Bécaud had his grand piano hoisted by crane into the top-floor flat before the roof was built, riding up on the platform himself. In 1978 Albert Spaggiari hid here at his mistress's home.
The tower sits in the heart of La Défense with easy access via nearby metro stations and bus routes. Parking is available in the district, and pedestrian paths connect it to shopping areas and other local facilities.
When the tower was built, singer Gilbert Bécaud had a grand piano hoisted by crane into the top-floor flat before the roof was finished, riding up on the platform himself. In 1978 Albert Spaggiari, the Nice bank-vault robber, lived hidden there at his mistress's home.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,673 contributors worldwide.
