Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to mark its military victories. The arc was completed only 30 years later, during the reign of the last French king Louis Philippe.
Apart from Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. Upon ascending to Champs Elysees from Charles de Gaulle-Étoile metro station, you are suddenly in the middle of hordes of tourists pointing their cameras towards the massive arc made of stone. It stands in the middle of a giant roundabout characterised by a constant flow of cars. Do not attempt to cross the roundabout to get to the Arc de Triomphe. Use one of the underpasses.
Despite its respectable age, the Arc de Triomphe looks solid and steady as a rock. It is decorated with reliefs and statues portraying victorious moments from Napoleon's epic battles. There is a tomb of an Unknown Soldier right under the arc. It was made in 1920 in memory of the soldiers who fought for freedom of France.
An observation platform on top of the 50-metres arc is open for visitors and offers unparalleled panoramic views of Paris. We climbed on top twice - in the afternoon and at sunset. We had Paris Museum Pass thus we did not need to pay entrance fee. Surprisingly the line to get on top of Arc de Triomphe was not too long. We did not have to wait more than 10 minutes. For security reasons, visitors need to open their bags for inspection before entering the Arc de Triomphe. If you get there in the evening, security personnel will probably ask you if you are carrying any alcohol. So if you are planning a romantic glass of champagne (which you can get from a conveniently located Publicisdrugstore nearby) on top of the Arc de Triomphe at sunset – forget about it. Alcohol is not allowed at the Arc de Triomphe.
The observation platform on top of the Arc de Triomphe offers excellent views of 12 avenues coming together at the Charles de Gaulle square under it, and of Eiffel Tower. When looking down from the Arc de Triomphe, one can also feel its role as a bond between the old and the new Paris. On one side there is Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde and Louvre Museum behind it. On the other side there is La Defence, a top-notch accomplishment of modern architectural design.
Location: Place Charles de Gaulle. Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. Web: (opening times, entrance fees etc.): arc-de-triomphe.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
Arc de Triomphe map
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