In 1806, Napoleon commissioned architect Jean-Francois-Therese Chalgrin to build the Arc de Triomphe on the most famous and elegant street in Paris, Champs Élysées. The Arc soars high above the street, with carved stone figures looking down on passers by. Beneath the Arc is a flowery memorial for the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” from World War I. Officers of the Imperial Army are listed on the walls of the smaller arches.
After climbing many spiraling steps–about 165 feet up–we finally made it to the top for the most spectacular view of Paris. Each hard earned step was worth it for the panoramic views of Paris. We could see most of the important monuments, museums, and neighborhoods we planned to explore during our trip. Most importantly, we got our first real glimpse of the iconic Eiffel Tower…Breathtaking!
Twelve avenues fan out from the Arc’s center. From the top, we laughed as we watched the cars attempting to navigate the busiest roundabout in Paris. Not an easy task!
The Arc is the customary starting point for victory celebrations and parades. Luckily, we got to experience a victory celebration first hand after the Parisian soccer team won a national title.
PPP TIP: Arc de Triomphe was our first attraction in Paris. We purchased our “Museum Pass” here, which covered most sights in the city (2 days–42 Euros, 4 days– 56 Euros, 6 days–69 Euros). The pass allowed us to skip ticket-buying lines and gave us priority entry at some sites. It was a big money and time saver. Read more about the Paris Museum Pass here.
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