Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It should not be confused with a smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands west of the Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

The triumphal arch was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Emperor Napoleon at the peak of his fortunes. Laying the foundations alone took two years and, in 1810, when Napoleon entered Paris from the west with his bride Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, he had a wooden mock-up of the completed arch constructed. The architect, Jean Chalgrin, died in 1811 and the work was taken over by Jean-Nicolas Huyot. During the Bourbon Restoration, construction was halted and it would not be completed until the reign of King Louis-Philippe, between 1833 and 1836, by the architects Goust, then Huyot, under the direction of Héricart de Thury. On 15 December 1840, brought back to France from Saint Helena, Napoleon's remains passed under it on their way to the Emperor's final resting place at the Invalides. Prior to burial in the Panthéon, the body of Victor Hugo was exposed under the Arc during the night of 22 May 1885.

The monument stands 50 metres in height, 45m wide and 22m deep. Its design was inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus. The Arc de Triomphe is built on such a large scale that, three weeks after the Paris victory parade in 1919 (marking the end of hostilities in World War I), Charles Godefroy flew his Nieuport biplane through it, with the event captured on newsreel.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Ashley Schmidt (11 months ago)
A must landmark to visit when in Paris. Recommend a visit to the top of it as well, purchase tickets for about $16 euro for adult. Lots of steep stairs to walk to the top but the view is worth it. Awesome views of Paris!!❤️?? So much history in this landmark, with a museum inside it u the top. Very popular place with tourists. Go through underground tunnel to get underneath the Arc de Triomphe, and purchase your tickets in the tunnel before exiting.

Stephen MacLean (12 months ago)
If you travel to Paris this is one of the must see, we visited on a Sunday around lunch time and there were no queues, we got GoCity passes before we travelled to Paris (we always get city passes wherever we go, it gets you up and out and about) entrance was free with the City passes. You get a great view of must if Paris form the top, probably the best view as you can get some great photos of the Eiffel Tower which you can’t get when your up the Eiffel Tower!! Well worth a visit to this world famous landmark.

Ryno89 Mor (12 months ago)
Absolutely excellent and well worth a visit, it is especially worth paying for a visit to the top for a spectacular view with some very interesting facts along the way. Be warned there are over 200 steps to the top, however I believe there is an elevator installed for disabled access. We came at an off peak time of year (February) minimal waits and minimal other humans. We also recommend buying tickets in advance as it makes the process much quicker and stress free.

Kalangi Rodrigo (12 months ago)
This majestic monument, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, honors the soldiers who fought and died for France. Its monumental size and intricate design command attention, offering spectacular views of the city from its observation deck. Whether admiring its intricacies up close or marveling at it from afar, the Arc de Triomphe embodies the spirit of resilience and victory, making it a must-see attraction for any visitor to Paris.

Grant Gillespie (12 months ago)
What a great landmark. Big and bold stretching its arch over a huge area offering 360 degree views of the surrounding areas. A spiral staircase takes one to the viewing deck so be prepared to climb many steps in a close narrow environment with no chairs along the way. One person wide !

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