After the French defeat in 1870, this area was established which is referred to as the "New Town", which is a new form of urban planning. The place includes wide avenues, huge administrative and cultural buildings, and luxurious private homes. Landscaping has also played an integral role in this impressive urban planning scheme. There are many fine examples of this grandiose imperial architectural style; In the center is a war memorial dating from 1936 featuring a woman with her two sons, one who died for France and the other for Germany, a dramatic setting that was very real for people during the two world wars.