Arc de Triomphe

26 Fascinating Facts About the Arc de Triomphe:

1. Location: The Arc de Triomphe stands west of central Paris on what is now known as Place Charles de Gaulle. The square was formerly called Place de l’Étoile, meaning Star Square, because 12 broad avenues radiate from it in a star-shaped pattern. Following Charles de Gaulle’s death, the square was renamed in 1970 in honour of the former French president. However, the old name remains widely known and is still frequently used today. Here, the Arc de Triomphe forms the striking western endpoint of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
2. Significance: At around 50 metres high and 45 metres wide, the Arc de Triomphe is one of the largest triumphal arches in the world. Only a few comparable monuments surpass it in height, including the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City and the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang. Today, the Arc de Triomphe is one of Paris’s most popular attractions and one of France’s most recognisable landmarks.
3. Earlier Structures: Even before the Arc de Triomphe was built, Place de l’Étoile was an important landmark at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The square marked a major entrance to Paris and connected the city with the surrounding areas to the west. Nearby stood the Barrière de l’Étoile, a former customs gate on Paris’s tax boundary.
4. The Elephant Plan: In 1758, the engineer Jean-Étienne Ribart de Chamoust proposed a monumental structure in the shape of a giant elephant for Place de l’Étoile. The design was intended to close off the sightline along the Champs-Élysées while also serving as an extraordinary fountain. Inside, plans included concert halls, ballrooms and rooms for official guests of the kingdom. Water was to spout from the elephant’s raised trunk. However, the visionary idea remained only a design and was never realised.
5. The Idea Behind the Monument: Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe to glorify his armies’ victories in monumental form. It was inspired by the triumphal arches of ancient Rome, including the Arch of Titus in Rome. Place de l’Étoile was the ideal location because it allowed the arch to make a particularly impressive statement at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The monument later also became a central place of remembrance for France’s soldiers.
6. Construction History: After the foundation stone was laid in 1806, construction of the Arc de Triomphe was anything but straightforward. The death of the architect Jean-François Chalgrin in 1811, Napoleon’s abdication in 1814 and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy led to lengthy interruptions. Work later resumed and, from 1832 onwards, progressed significantly under King Louis-Philippe. The triumphal arch was finally completed in 1836.
7. Napoleon’s Rise: Napoleon Bonaparte came from a Corsican noble family that initially held little political influence in France. His great opportunity came with the French Revolution, when many members of the old elite lost their power and talented officers were able to rise unusually quickly. Through his victories in Italy, his reputation as a military commander and his skilful political alliances, Napoleon became France’s leading military figure. In 1799, he took advantage of the weakness of the unpopular Directory, overthrew the government and seized power as First Consul.
8. Napoleon’s Imperial Era: In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French at Notre-Dame. In doing so, he made it clear that his rule did not depend on old dynasties or the Pope. In the years that followed, he controlled large parts of Europe either directly or indirectly and placed members of his family on several thrones, including those of Naples, Spain and the Kingdom of Holland. In France, many regarded him as a man of order because he restored stability after the chaotic years of the Revolution and introduced important reforms.
9. The Dramatic Fall: The invasion of Russia in 1812 marked the turning point of Napoleon’s rule. His Grande Armée was almost completely destroyed by hunger, cold, disease and constant attacks. In 1813, a European alliance defeated him at the Battle of Leipzig. In 1814, he was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Elba. Although he returned to power for 100 days in 1815, his rule came to a definitive end after his defeat at Waterloo. The British exiled him to St Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.
10. Funeral Procession: In 1840, Napoleon’s remains were brought from St Helena to Paris. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets as the ceremonial procession made its way through the city. One of the most memorable moments came when Napoleon’s coffin was carried beneath the Arc de Triomphe. He was then laid to rest at Les Invalides, where his monumental tomb was later created.
11. Napoleon’s Full-Scale Model: When Napoleon married Marie Louise of Austria in 1810, the Arc de Triomphe was still far from complete. To allow the wedding procession to pass beneath a triumphal arch, Napoleon had a full-scale model erected on the foundations. Made of wood and painted fabric, it offered an impressive preview of the future monument.
12. La Marseillaise and the Departure of the Volunteers: François Rude’s famous high relief La Marseillaise is located on the right-hand pier on the eastern side of the Arc de Triomphe, facing the Champs-Élysées. It is positioned in the lower section, just above the base. The relief depicts volunteers setting out to fight Austria in 1792, led by a powerful winged figure of Liberty. According to rumours, the artist’s wife, Sophie Rude, modelled for the figure’s face. With its dynamic movement and striking sense of drama, the work is regarded as a masterpiece of sculpture.
13. The Triumph: On the neighbouring pier is Jean-Pierre Cortot’s The Triumph of 1810. This Neoclassical relief depicts Napoleon as the victor, crowned by a goddess of victory, and celebrates the Peace of Schönbrunn following the defeat of Austria. Its composition is calmer and more symmetrical than François Rude’s powerful Marseillaise.
14. Resistance and Peace: Two sculptural groups by Antoine Étex are located on the western piers. Resistance depicts French militias fighting invading troops in 1814, towards the end of the Napoleonic era. Peace represents the restoration of harmony following Napoleon’s fall in 1815. Together, the two reliefs express hope for calm and reconciliation after years of bloody warfare.
15. Six Battle Reliefs: Six bas-reliefs are mounted above the side archways and above the four large high reliefs. They depict decisive moments from the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. The scenes show the funeral of General Marceau, the battles of Jemappes in 1792, Aboukir in 1799 and Austerlitz in 1805, the crossing of the bridge at Arcole in 1796 and the capture of Alexandria in 1798. These scenes complement the monumental sculptural groups and illustrate the military successes of the period.
16. Interior Reliefs: Inside the arch, four additional reliefs are positioned above the panels bearing the generals’ names. They represent the glory of France in different directions and feature traditional symbols of victory, including flags, weapons, armour, trumpets and laurel wreaths. Unlike the large battle reliefs, they do not depict a single dramatic event but instead present France’s triumph in symbolic form.
17. Inscriptions: The names of 660 military leaders are engraved on the interior walls of the arch. Generals who died in battle are identified by underlining. The walls also display the names of 158 battles and military successes from the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. In this way, the triumphal arch serves as an immense monument of honour. At the very top, beneath the roof, 30 large shields bear the names of the most famous victories, including Jemappes, Austerlitz, Wagram and Rivoli.
18. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has stood beneath the Arc de Triomphe since 1921. It was created as a symbol for all the unidentified soldiers who died in World War I. The soldier was selected in Verdun in 1920 from 8 unidentified coffins and was buried here one year later. The eternal flame above the tomb has burned since 11 November 1923. It was the first of its kind in Europe and became a model for many memorial flames around the world. The flame is rekindled every evening, making the site a central place of remembrance where presidents and visiting heads of state also lay wreaths.
19. Viewing Platform: The viewing platform of the Arc de Triomphe offers an impressive panoramic view across Paris. From the top, visitors can see the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, among other landmarks. Reaching the top requires a climb of 284 steps. A lift is available for visitors who need it and makes part of the ascent easier.
20. Sunset: Twice a year, a spectacular natural phenomenon can be seen at the Arc de Triomphe. Around 10 May and 1 August, the sun sets directly along the axis of the Champs-Élysées. For a few minutes, the setting sun appears perfectly framed within the arch of the monument. This remarkable sight attracts large numbers of visitors every year.
21. Spectacular Flight: On 7 August 1919, pilot Charles Godefroy caused a sensation when he flew a biplane beneath the Arc de Triomphe. The daring manoeuvre was intended as a tribute to the pilots who had died in World War I. The flight was filmed and turned Godefroy into a legend.
22. Wrapped by Christo: In autumn 2021, the Arc de Triomphe was completely wrapped for 16 days. The installation used 25,000 square metres of silvery-blue fabric and 3,000 metres of rope. It was the final major work by the artist Christo. His team carried out the plans after his death.
23. Tour de France: Since 1975, the Tour de France has traditionally finished on the Champs-Élysées. There, the professional cyclists circle the Arc de Triomphe over several laps. The Tour de France is the most famous cycling race in the world. It has been held since 1903 and attracts millions of spectators to the roadside and their screens every year.
24. Replica in Las Vegas: A detailed replica of the Arc de Triomphe stands in front of the Paris Las Vegas hotel. The artificial triumphal arch is approximately two-thirds the size of the original and opened together with the hotel in 1999. Today, it is one of the most popular photo spots on the Strip and brings a piece of Paris to the heart of the Nevada desert.
25. National Day: On France’s national day, 14 July, the major military parade normally begins in the area around the Arc de Triomphe. The parade dates back to 1880 and is now one of Europe’s largest and most traditional military parades. Foreign guests and military contingents from allied countries also regularly take part. As a result, the Arc de Triomphe becomes the impressive starting point of an important national state ceremony each year.
26. Roundabout: The roundabout surrounding the Arc de Triomphe is one of the largest and most chaotic in the world. Twelve roads feed into the circle, and there are no lane markings. Several cars often squeeze through the traffic side by side. When an accident occurs, insurers frequently divide the blame because the exact sequence of events is often difficult to reconstruct.