La Défense () is an area in the Paris Metropolitan Area of Île-de-France, located in the Hauts-de-Seine French department, just west of Paris. It is the largest business district in Europe and is home to 19 skyscrapers and more than 50 other buildings made of glass and steel. The area is 1.6 km (560 hectares) big. About 25,000 people live in La Défense, and another 180,000 people work there. Over 8 million tourists visit La Défense every year.