Nanterre (; ) is the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located some northwest of the centre of Paris. As of 2023, the population of the commune was 97,783. The large necropolis, as well as working people's homes from some time later in the ancient era, is near the bank of the Seine, in the northwest of Nanterre, and might be the sacred place that is referred to etymologically. The archeological work in Nanterre has suggested over of pre-Roman or Roman-era construction. These archeological findings may be an indication that Nanterre was the closest pre-Roman settlement to the modern centre of Paris.

Lutetia is mentioned by Julius Caesar in 50 BCE, reporting an assembly in Lutetia in 53 BC between himself, commander of the Roman Legions, and local Gallic leaders.

During the repression of January and February 1894, the police conducted raids targeting the anarchists living there, without much success.

thumb|The [[Hôtel de Ville, Nanterre|Hôtel de Ville]]

The Hôtel de Ville (town hall), designed in the shape of a pyramid, was completed in 1973.

On 27 March 2002, Richard Durn, a disgruntled local activist, shot and killed eight town councilors and 19 others were wounded at the town hall in what the French press dubbed the Nanterre massacre. On 28 March, the murderer killed himself by jumping from the 4th floor of 36 Quai des Orfèvres, in Paris, while he was questioned by two policemen about the reason for his killings.

In June 2023, seventeen year old Nahel Merzouk was killed by a police officer following a traffic stop. His death sparked violent unrest around France.

Administration

Nanterre is divided into two cantons:

  • Canton of Nanterre-1
  • Canton of Nanterre-2

Transport

Nanterre is served by three stations on RER A: , , and .

Nanterre-Université station is also an interchange station on the Transilien Paris-Saint-Lazare suburban rail line.

Economy

Société Générale has its headquarters in the Tours Société Générale in La Défense and Nanterre. The company moved into the building in 1995.

Groupe du Louvre and subsidiary Louvre Hôtels have their head office in Village 5 in La Défense and Nanterre.

Sports

The basketball club Nanterre 92 plays at Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez.

The rugby union club Racing 92 opened the new Paris La Défense Arena in October 2017 and played their first game in the new facility in December 2017. It has a capacity of 32,000 for rugby and 40,000 for concerts. The venue opened as U Arena, but received its current name in June 2018 through a sponsorship deal with Paris La Défense, the company that manages the La Défense business district.

It also hosts WWE Clash in Paris in August 2025.

Demographics

Population

Immigration

International relations

thumb|Nanterre's twin towns sign

Nanterre is twinned with:

  • Craiova, Romania
  • Pesaro, Italy
  • Tlemcen, Algeria
  • Veliky Novgorod, Russia
  • Watford, United Kingdom
  • Žilina, Slovakia

See also

  • La Défense business district.
  • List of tallest structures in Paris
  • Communes of the Hauts-de-Seine department

References

  • Official website
  • Université Paris 10 Nanterre (in French)
  • Nanterre students (in French)
  • News coverage of March 2006 University occupation (in English)
  • Pictures of Nanterre (in French)
  • Nanterre Cathedral gallery of pictures