Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris since it stands at the top of the most famous street in the City, The Champs Elysées, in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle - Etoile. The Arche is in the middle of the historic axis (Axe historique) – a sequence of monuments and 3 arches on a route which goes from the courtyard of the Louvre and the Smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carroussel, to the Grande Arche de la Défense.

Besides the beauty of the monument when looking at it from below, you definitly need to visit the top of it where you can enjoy one of the best view and landscapes of Paris, probably as good as from the Eiffel Tower.

In order to avoid the ticket queue, you can by Paris Museum Pass which will avoid you queuing and make you save money.

The Arc de Triomphe (Triumphal Arch) 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 where several ceremonies are held on the WWI and WWII victory dates in November and May.

The Arc de Triomphe is the linchpin ofThe monument was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806, and its iconographic program pitted heroically nude French youths against bearded Germanic warriors in chain mail. It set the tone for public monuments, with triumphant patriotic messages.

The monument stands 50 metres (164 ft) in height, 45 m (148 ft) wide and 22 m (72 ft) deep, making it the second largest triumphal arch in the world (after Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang). The Arc de Triomphe is so colossal 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. Its design was inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus.

Opens
April 1 to September 30: 10h00 to 23h00
Octobre 1 to march 31: 10h00 to 22h30
Must arrive 30 mn before closing time

Closed
January 1, May 1, May 8 (mroning), July 14 (morning), November 11 (morning), December 25.

Attention: if you want to climb to the top by taking the stairs, it's pretty physical, and the stairs are narrow. If you are Clostrophobic or not in a good shape, better take the elevator.



For more information, you can chack the Wikipedia PageLess