One of the symbols of Paris and a wonderful view from the top, however, my biggest thrill is to drive it around lol!! 12 avenues in a traffic circle and no accidents seen by yours truly over the years! A wonderful experience !!! I know I see your eyebrows already but is a piece of cake!! I have written before on it plenty but as usual lately been founding pictures not in my blog and they should, Therefore, let me tell you a bit more on the Arc de Triomphe of Paris, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Arc de Triomphe is located on Place Charles de Gaulle which was previously called Place de l’Etoile from where 12 major avenues, among the most exclusive in Paris, depart. Clockwise, you will find the avenue Marceau, avenue d’Iéna, avenue Kléber, avenue Victor Hugo, avenue Foch (my favorite entry!) , avenue de la Grande Armée, avenue Carnot, avenue Mac-Mahon, avenue de Wagram, avenue Hoche, avenue de Friedland and finally avenue des Champs Élysées.
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most emblematic monuments in Paris. Measuring 50 meters high, 22 meters wide and 45 meters long, the Arc de Triomphe is the symbol of the victories of the French army under Napoleon’s Empire. The attic or upper part of the Arc, crowned with 30 shields on which are engraved the names of great battles of the revolution and the empire. The battles you will find on the interior faces of the large arcades. The 558 French generals, some of whom died in action, their names are underlined.
It is located at the crossroads of several arrondissements, the Arc de Triomphe enjoys a panoramic terrace 50 meters above the ground. Take to the skies by climbing the 284 steps of the staircase and judge for yourself. Day or night, it is one of the most extraordinary views of Paris. It allows you to admire the Champs-Élysées, the most beautiful avenue in the world, but also to grasp the scale of the city’s Haussmannian riches.
Some emblematic ones me think are the departure of the Volunteers in 1792, also called the Marseillaise, represents the French people in all their diversity from revolutionaries (Republicans), Royalists and Bonapartists going together to fight. An iconic work of the French Republic erected under king of the French, Louis Philippe, in 1833. At the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, you can discover the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument erected in 1921 with a flame that never goes out, called the eternal flame. This symbol represents all the French who died during WWI or as we know it here, the Great War, who could never be identified.
The arch is 49.54 meters high, 44.82 meters wide and 22.21 meters deep,exactly, It sits in the middle of the place de l’étoile, in the 8éme arrondissement of Paris, and surrounded by a huge roundabout from which avenue Kléber, avenue de la Grande-Armée, avenue de Wagram or the avenue des Champs-Elysées as the main ones come out like a star formation. The panoramic view from the roof of the Arc de Triomphe is equally impressive. From above, you can admire the dynamism that animates the city by observing the twelve main arteries meeting at this point. The ascent to the Arc de Triomphe will give you beautiful views of the Champs-Elysées and the La Défense district. The climb is worth it. To enter and access the upper floor of the arch, you will need to pay the entrance fee and climb the 286 steps that separate the terrace from the ground. There is also a small museum inside, relating the history and construction of this imposing monument.
It was Napoleon who decided to build it in 1806 at the end of the Battle of Austerlitz and the arch was completed during the reign of Louis-Philippe. Before the expansion of Paris in 1860, the land on which the monument was built was on the border of the city, and offered privileged access to the Emperor’s residence, the former Palais des Tuileries, via the Champs-Élysées.
A couple of anecdotes I always like to tell is that in 1919, pilot Charles Godefroy accomplished the feat of flying his plane under the Arc de Triomphe. Also, Victor Hugo’s (see post) body will be watched over there for one night after his death, before his burial !
The official Arc de Triomphe monument: http://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/en/#
The Paris tourist office on the Arc de Triomphe: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71396/Arc-de-Triomphe
There you go folks, one of the icons of Paris and not seen as much as it should be, This is the Arc de Triomphe of the most beautiful city in the world, Paris. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Arc de Triomphe of Paris, part II !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 