Engraved with names of French victories and generals, the Arc de Triomphe stands tall. It honors those who fought for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806, the Arc de Triomphe was inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome. It stands at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly Place de l’Étoile.
Napoleon wanted to celebrate the military achievements of the French armies. Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin designed the arch. Construction began on August 15, 1806, Napoleon’s birthday. By 1810, only the foundation was complete. To honor Marie-Louise’s ceremonial entry into Paris, a full-scale wooden depiction was erected. This allowed Chalgrin to see his design and make amendments.
Chalgrin died in 1811. Work slowed after Napoleon’s abdication and the Bourbon Restoration. King Louis XVIII ordered resumption of work in 1823. The basic structure was finished by 1831. King Louis-Philippe officially opened it on July 29, 1836. The Arc de Triomphe is 164 feet high and 148 feet wide. Twelve grand avenues radiate from the circular plaza creating a star.
Decorative sculptures adorn the facades. François Rude, Jean-Pierre Cortot, and Antoine Étex created high-relief sculptures. Rude’s “Departure of the Volunteers of 1792” is the most famous. It is also known as “La Marseillaise”. Other surfaces list hundreds of generals and battles. A stairway of 284 steps leads to the top. An elevator goes partway up. The remaining steps lead to the observation deck. A small museum displays the arch’s history one level below.
Beneath the Arc de Triomphe lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was added in 1921. A flame of remembrance is rekindled each evening. An annual ceremony marks the 1918 armistice anniversary. The Arc de Triomphe has witnessed historical events. Victor Hugo’s body lay in state there. Victory parades marched past it. These included invading powers and French allies.
Charles Godefroy flew his biplane under the arch in 1919. The sword carried by the Republic in the Marseillaise relief broke off in 1916. This was said to have happened on the day the Battle of Verdun began. The monument was cleaned in the 1960s due to soot. In 1995, a bomb wounded 17 people.
In 2021, the arch was wrapped in fabric as part of a posthumous project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. From the top, one can see a panoramic view of Paris. The Arc de Triomphe remains an iconic symbol of France. It is a reminder of French military history. It stands as a testament to national identity. Remember the sun setting in the center of the arch in May and August.