A gem of contemporary art, the Axe Majeur (the symbol of the town) in Cergy-Pontoise was designed in 1980 by the sculptor Dani Karavan. This 3km route has 12 points of interest and various monumental sculptures along it. Its starting point is the belvedere tower, a 36m column on top of which a laser marks the route of the Axe as night falls. From the huge Esplanade de Paris the view extends as far as La Défense and its skyscrapers. At the end of the route, a bright-red footbridge crosses the River Oise, providing access to the Cergy outdoor leisure complex.