Have you ever noticed the smaller, less famous archway nestled just west of the Louvre Museum? This is the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, a majestic monument unlike any other. Napoleon Bonaparte, the great emperor of France, ordered its construction in 1806 to honor his triumphant victories in Austria. This grandiose arch is a smaller scale copy of the Arch of Constantine in Rome, which itself was influenced by the arches of Septimius Severus. It stands as a testament to the grandeur of Napoleon’s ambitions and the brilliance of the architects, Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine.
The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is a symbol of the French Empire’s power and prestige. There’s a curious tale behind the chariot that sits atop it, a symbol of victory pulled by four majestic horses adorned with gold. These were originally the Horses of Saint Mark, part of the Basilica of St Mark in Venice, brought to Paris as spoils of war. While the original horses were eventually returned to Venice, the copies still serve as a majestic reminder of Napoleon’s powerful presence and the enduring fascination with the legacy of the French Empire.