The Arc De Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, formed by its twelve radiating avenues.
The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. The Arc de Triomphe was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806.

Inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome ,
Italy, the Arc de Triomphe has an overall height of 50 metres (164 ft), width of 45 m (148 ft), and depth of 22 m (72 ft), while its large vault is 29.19 m (95.8 ft) high and 14.62 m (48.0 ft) wide. The smaller transverse vaults are 18.68 m (61.3 ft) high and 8.44 m (27.7 ft) wide.

This 50 meter/164 foot tall majestic monument was built by the Napoleon in 1806. It was built in memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives for the country led by the leader Napoleon. This arc is considered one of the grandest all over the world. This 50 meter structure took nearly 3 decades for its completion; it was started by the Napoleon but was finally finished by Louis-Phillippe as Napoleon lost power.

This grand structure symbolizes the pride of the people of Paris and France, as this commemorates the victorious battles won by the great French leader. Many ceremonies and parades are held at this arc like on July 14 it hosts a series of events event followed by a huge parade to mark Bastille Day and this parade is considered as the biggest in Europe and on 8th of May it also plays a major role in VE day celebrations. This arc is extravagantly carved with beautiful sculptures of various soldiers.

The grand arc stands tall and high in the western end of the city where the most of the commercial areas and hotels are situated. Situated at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, This grand arc was one of the many arcs built by Napoleon. He built this one as he was not satisfied by the one he built earlier.

There is a unique specialty to this arc. It is believed that under this enormous structure, is buried an unknown soldier who died in World War I or the World War II. The origin of the soldier is unknown so far. Due to this sole reason this arc is also known as the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Over the years this arc has become a monument of high stature as many political and celebrity figures have visited and paid their tributes to this soldier. Another thing one can find here is the everlasting flame. As a matter of fact this eternal flame is the first one to be lit in Europe.

This arc also plays a vital role in the world’s largest cycling event known as tour de France as this arc symbolizes the final leap of the race with Champs Elysees marking the end of the race.
The history behind this huge structure is showcased in the museum just next to the monument itself. The museum depicts the unique history and facts behind this structure and also has all the details on the famous victories by Napoleon. The museum is free for everyone and is open all throughout the week.

With all this history behind it the Arc de Triomphe is one important and a must visit place for every tourist visiting Paris.

The Design

Commissioned by Napoléon I to commemorate his military conquests , the Arc de Triomphe is the world's largest triumphal arch. Architect Jean François Thérèse Chalgrin's creation is twice the size of the ancient Roman Arch of Constantine after which it is modeled. Work on the Arc stopped when Napoléon was defeated in 1814, but started up again in 1833 in the name of King Louis-Philippe I, who dedicated it to the glory of the French armed forces. Guillaume Abel Blouet completed the Arc based on Chalgrin's design, and is the architect actually credited on the monument itself.

An emblem of French patriotism, the Arc de Triomphe is engraved with the names of war victories and 558 generals (those who died at war are underlined). An Unknown Soldier buried under the arch and an eternal flame of remembrance lit since 1920 commemorate victims of the world wars. On national holidays like Armistice Day and Bastille Day, the decorated Arc de Triomphe features at the beginning or end of a parade or other celebration.

Each of the Arc's pillars is adorned with one of four large sculptural reliefs: The Departure of the Volunteers in 1792 (aka La Marseillaise) by François Rude; Napoléon's Triumph of 1810 by Cortot; and Resistance of 1814 and Peace of 1815, both by Etex. The simple design and immense size of the Arc de Triomphe are typical of late 18th-century romantic neoclassicism.

Some Interesting Facts About The Arc De Triomphe

• The construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris was ordered in 1806 by Napoleon, the French Emperor.
  Napoleon wanted to honor the Grande Armee, the name of the French army at that time.

• The Grande Armee had conquered most of Europe and was then considered invicible. After his Austerlitz victory in 1805, Napoleon said to his soldiers : "You will return home through archs of triumph".

• The construction had been stopped between 1814 (abdication of Napoleon) and 1826.

• The Arc de Triomphe costed 9.3 millions French francs, a gigantic amount of money at that time.

• The names of 128 battles of the first French Republic and Napoleon's Empire are written on the white walls under the vault together with the names of the generals who took part in them.

• The construction of Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836, long after Napoleon's death in 1821.

The top view of the Arc de Triomphe showing beautifly the roundabout and the architectural design around the Arc

In the mid-19th century, Baron Haussmann set out to make Paris the grandest city in Europe. The 12 arterials that radiate from the Arc de Triomphe were part of his master plan: the creation of a series of major boulevards, intersecting at diagonals with monuments as centerpieces (such as the Arc de Triomphe). As you zip around the circle, it’s obvious that Haussmann’s plan did not anticipate the automobile.

If there is an accident here, each driver is considered equally at fault. This is the only place in Paris where the accidents are not judged. No matter what the circumstances, insurance companies split the costs fifty-fifty. In Paris, a good driver gets only scratches, not dents.

Please Note: Some parts of this article were adopted from various other articles and suited for proper understanding.