At the heart of the new town of Cergy-Pontoise, the Axe Majeur is a monumental and singular work, at the crossroads of contemporary art, landscape and urban planning. Conceived in the 1980s by Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan, this 3.2-kilometre route stretches majestically from the Horloge district to the banks of the River Oise, offering visitors a unique sensory and visual experience.
A monumental sculpture at the gateway to Paris
The story of the Axe Majeur began in the 1960s, when the French government decided to create new towns around Paris to relieve traffic congestion. Cergy-Pontoise, built around a loop of the river Oise, had an ambitious urban project: to create a structuring axis that would be both a visual landmark and the backbone of the city. As early as 1980, Dani Karavan was asked to add an artistic dimension to the route, inspired by the great classical thoroughfares of the Île-de-France region.
The Axe Majeur features twelve stations, each with its own symbols and functions. Among them, the Belvedere tower marks the start of the route, followed by the Place de la Tour, the Verger des Impressionnistes, the Esplanade de Paris and its famous Twelve Columns, and the Jardins des Droits de l’Homme. Further on, the green amphitheatre, the red footbridge spanning the Oise River, the Astronomical Island and the Pyramid punctuate this monumental promenade. The number twelve, chosen by the artist, echoes time, the year, day and night. When night falls, a large laser even illuminates the site, reminding us of a science-fiction setting!
Over the decades, the Axe Majeur has become the symbol of Cergy, embodying architectural audacity and the desire to link the city to its natural environment. It offers exceptional views of the Oise loop and La Défense, while inviting visitors to contemplate and stroll along. Although largely completed, the Axe Majeur remains open to new developments, notably on the Astronomical Island, which could become a space dedicated to astronomy and landscape observation. To be continued!
Axe majeur de Cergy-Pontoise – 5 rue de l’Esplanade de Paris – Cergy