Triumphal Arch

Beautifully illuminated at night and easily spotted during the day, this Triumphal Arch belongs to the most famous memorials in Paris. It is a tribute to all the people who died fighting for their homeland in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. There is a tomb under it, a Memorial to the Unknown Soldier from World War I. Names of various Generals and leaders are written on the walls of the arch. The Memorial Flame, lit in 1923, has never been extinguished.

Construction of the Arc de Triomphe took about 30 years in total. Many famous French architects worked on it. The building can be spotted from many parts of the city. Its style imitates ancient Roman design, but in a Neo-Classical way. There are four statues situated at the base of the arc; Le Départ, Le Triomphe, La Résistance and La Paix. There are also six reliefs on it.

It is possible to visit the interior of the arch. Inside, there is an elevator that will take you up to a museum presenting various models of the arch and the history of its construction. From here, it’s only 46 steps to the top. The view of Paris is simply amazing! Various events take place under the Arc de Triomphe, such as parades and concerts.

The Arc de Triomphe is located on Place Charles de Gaulle at the top of the Champs-Élysées which is a large circular area from where twelve streets radiate. You can see all of them from the top of the arch. Traffic is quite heavy here so using the underpasses to get to the roundabout on which the arch stands is advised. Métro lines 1, 2 and 6 go to nearby Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile as does the RER line A. Buses nos. 22, 30, 31, 52, 73 and 92 will also get you there.

Opening Hours

1 April to 30 September : 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
1 October to 31 March : 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Admission

Adults: 9.50 €
Reduced: 6 €

Free admission: minors under 18, 18-26 year-old EU citizens, the disabled.

Contact

Phone: +33 1 55 37 73 77

• Official website of the Triumphal Arch

• Triumphal Arch at Wikipedia