ARC DE TRIOMPHE - Paris
The Arc de Triomphe was
commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon the 1st as a tribute to his own
military achievements, but it was not completed until 1836. The
Arc was later modified to honor the armies of the Revolution.
The Arc de Triomphe is built on the model of ancient Triumphal
Arches, but it is unique because of its monumental size: 50 meters
tall and 45 meters wide (164 by 148 feet). The four magnificent
high reliefs are crowned by Rude's masterpiece, "The Departure
of the Volunteers in 1792"
The structure was designed by Jean François Thérèse
Chalgrin (1739-1811) and completed in 1836 during the reign of
Louis Philippe. Its deceptively simple design and immense size,
49.5 m (162 ft) in height, mark it unmistakably as a product of
late 18th-century romantic neoclassicism.
The monument overlooks the hill of Chaillot at the center of a
star-shaped configuration of 12 radiating avenues. It is the climax
of a vista seen the length of the Champs Elysées from the
smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in the Tuileries gardens,
and from the Obélisque de Luxor in the place de la Concorde.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier faces down the Champs-Elysees. An eternal flame burns. The flame is rekindled each evening at 6:30 pm. Its eternal flame commemorates the dead of the two world wars. Here, on every November 11, the President of the Republic lays a ceremonial wreath.
At the bases of the Arc's pillars are four huge relief sculptures,
commemorating The Triumph of 1810 (by Cortot); Resistance, and
Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more
commonly known as La Marseillaise (by François Rude). On
the day the Battle of Verdun started (1916), the sword carried
by the figure representing the Republic broke off from La Marseillaise.
The relief was immediately hidden to conceal the accident, so
that it would not be interpreted as a bad omen.
Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories
won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names
of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals,
can be found on the inside walls. (Generals whose names are underlined
died in action.)
Inside the Arch, a small museum documents its history and construction.
The price of admission includes access to the top of the Arch.
From the roof, one is treated to spectacular views of Paris. Looking
eastwards, down the Champs Elysées, toward the Louvre,
there is the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens, and
the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. In the opposite direction -
westwards - in the distance is its larger and newer cousin, La
Grande Arche de la Défense.
Before taking the elevator to the top of the Arc to experience
the amazing city view, stand by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
added at the Archs base in 1920. An eternal flame burns
here to commemorate fallen soldiers.
As visitors stand silent in thought, cars zip madly around the
road circling the Arc. Fortunately, there is an underground passage
for pedestrians to pass beneath the busy road. To cross it would
truly be a life-threatening endeavor!
Rond Point Place Charles de Gaulle
How to get there
Take the bus 22 at Havre Caumartin direct from la Villathena to the Arc de Triomphe in approx 15 minutes
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