MAJOR AXIS

It's the "signature" of the Cergy-Pontoise conurbation and an international benchmark for contemporary art: the Axe majeur. Originally, it's a natural site formed by a loop of the river Oise, embraced by a natural plateau at the top of which is a breathtaking vista towards La Défense and Paris, more than 25 kilometers away. Dani Karavan (1930-2020), the visual artist who designed the complex, probably best recalls the surprise of discovering the site in 1980: "I was breathing deeply. The beauty of the site is breathtaking: a gift from nature to humanity. Madness, utopia. How can it be that I wasn't frightened? That I didn't run away? How come I accepted this almost impossible mission? And yet, he did. The 3.2-kilometre, totally straight, pedestrian-accessible route stretches like a long, majestic ribbon, marked by a variety of eclectic stations. It begins on the heights of Cergy, with the Belvedere tower - an immense, slightly inclined totem over 30 metres high - located at the heart of a huge square surrounded by buildings arranged in a circle, designed by Ricardo Bofill. It is between two of these buildings that the Axe majeur begins its course. You then cross the Impressionist orchard, with its 700 fruit trees. Next comes the majestic 280-metre-long Esplanade de Paris, a 2-hectare area with a splendid view of Paris in the distance. At the far end of the esplanade are the twelve columns, like the outline of an ancient temple, where the sun plays with the shapes. The Garden of Human Rights slopes down, followed by the amphitheatre, as if facing a specially created dock, the stage and the ponds. Another symbol of the Axe, the footbridge, which floats between sky and water, is a simply incredible achievement. Its red color and arches offer a unique experience. The complex culminates in two inaccessible spaces: the Astronomical Island and the Pyramid, set on the waves of the immense expanse of water. At night, a 3.2-kilometre-long laser beam marks the entire complex: the exact length of the Axis, which is due to be completed in the next few years. In this way, you travel through spaces as diverse as they are magnificent, architectural feats and natural wonders, around a straight axis. A world-famous symbol of Cergy-Pontoise, this complex is also a favorite with local residents, who enjoy strolling and playing sports.