Happy TravellerWelcome to Courbevoie, a charming commune located in the Hauts-de-Seine Department of the Île-de-France region of France. Situated just 8.2 km (5.1 mi) from the center of Paris, Courbevoie is a popular destination for tourists looking to explore the suburbs of the City of Light. The center of Courbevoie is situated 2 km (1.2 mi) from the city limits of Paris, making it an easily accessible destination for travelers. One of the main attractions of Courbevoie is La Défense, a business district hosting the tallest buildings in the Paris metropolitan area, which spreads over the southern part of Courbevoie (as well as parts of Puteaux and Nanterre).
The name Courbevoie comes from Latin Curva Via and means curved highway, allegedly in reference to a Roman road from Paris to Normandy that made a sharp turn to climb the hill over which Courbevoie was built. Courbevoie is divided into two cantons: Canton of Courbevoie-1 and Canton of Courbevoie-2.
Courbevoie has a rich history, dating back to the seventeenth century when a wooden bridge was built crossing the Seine at Courbevoie by order of King Henry IV when in 1606 his royal coach fell into the river while being transported by ferry. Rebuilt in stone during the eighteenth century, this was replaced by a metal bridge in 1946. The Convent of the Penitents founded in 1658 by Jean-Baptiste Forne was located in Courbevoie until the Revolution of 1789. Also located in the town was the barracks of the Swiss Guard of the monarchy.
Courbevoie is well-connected to the rest of the Paris metropolitan area, with two stations on the Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail line: Courbevoie and Bécon-les-Bruyères. Courbevoie is also served by Esplanade de La Défense station on Paris Métro Line 1, in the business district of La Défense. There are also a large number of city buses that come through the bustling La Défense station. When it comes to air transportation, Courbevoie can be served by Pariss Charles de Gaulle Airport as well as Paris-Orly to the south and Beauvais Airport to the north.
Courbevoie has multiple preschools and elementary schools, as well as several junior high schools and senior high schools. Notable people from Courbevoie include cubist artist and painter Albert Gleizes, writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline, and actor and comedian Louis de Funès.
Courbevoie is twinned with Enfield (London), United Kingdom, Freudenstadt (Baden-Württemberg), Germany, and Beit Mery (Mount Lebanon), Lebanon. The headquarters of Total S.A., Areva, and Saint-Gobain are located in Courbevoie, as well as the French government office for patents, copyrights, and trademarks, INPI.
Come and discover the hidden treasures of Courbevoie, a charming destination that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
