Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile

Landmark and traffic hub

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is located at the western end of the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. It forms the center of a roundabout 240 meters (787 ft) in diameter, into which twelve streets converge in a star shape—hence the name “de l'Étoile” (French for “of the star”). Despite the heavy traffic, the roundabout has no lane markings, which is why driving around the Arc de Triomphe can be a rather chaotic experience. 

Construction history

The monument was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to honor his victories. However, construction dragged on for decades. It was not until 1836, under King Louis-Philippe I, that the triumphal arch was completed. Designed by architect Jean-François Chalgrin, it was modeled on the 1st-century Arch of Titus in Rome. 

Size

With a height of 50 meters (164 ft), the Arc de Triomphe was the largest triumphal arch in the world until the Monumento a la Revolución was built in Mexico in 1938. Its large vault is a good 29 meters (95 ft) high.

Commemoration

The imposing structure is decorated with reliefs and sculptures depicting battles from the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The walls are inscribed with 660 names, mainly of French generals. Beneath the triumphal arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in memory of the victims of the First World War, with an eternal flame that has been rekindled every day since 1923.

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