The Ultimate Guide to Arc de Triomphe History, Architecture, and More

When in Paris, you do not want to miss visiting the Arc de Triomphe. Considered one of the finest works of architecture worldwide, it is one of France’s most-visited monuments. Napoleon I wanted Paris to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world; hence, in 1806, he commissioned the design and construction of the triumphal arch. The task was given to architects Jean-François Thérèse Chalgrin and Jean-Arnaud Raymond, who conceptualized the Astylar design in the Neoclassical style of ancient Roman architecture. The design plan and the architectural ideas underwent several changes in the next two decades. Finally, in 1836, under French King Louis-Phillipe, architect Guillaume-Abel Blouet ensured the completion of the Arc de Triomphe, which stood as the tallest arch in the world for the next 100 years.

Arc de Triomphe history

Standing on the right bank of the river Seine, the triumphal arch has been part of France’s rich history and heritage for years. One of the most popular monuments in Europe and one of the most visited in the world, the Arc de Triomphe is the central feature of the Axe Historique, the famous sequence of monuments and thoroughfares on a route from the Louvre to La Grande Arche de la Defense. Commissioned by Napoleon I, the famous arch was completed under the watch of the French King, Louis-Philippe, who dedicated the monument to the armies of the revolution and the Empire. For more than 100 years, the arch saw the Paris skies as the tallest arch in the world.

In 1921, inspired by the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed beneath the arch after World War I. The Eternal Flame is rekindled every day at 6:30pm, a tradition followed even today. 

The iconic monument has been through World Wars, revolutions, urbanization, and peace. It has seen French armies march for the war, German armies leading the victory marches, and the end of World War II when the French army and its allies marched past the monument. The Arc de Triomphe's history has been nothing short of a testament to how Paris evolved over the years and how the arch still stands tall in all its glory.

Arc de Triomphe architecture

Conceptualized by architect Jean Chalgrin and inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus, the Arc de Triomphe Paris features Neoclassical elements of Roman architecture. The 162-foot tall and 150-foot wide arch saw its first stone laid in 1806 after Napoleon I agreed to build the arch at Place de l’Etoile. A team of experts and architects joined Jean Chalgrin to prepare the construction plan for the monument. In 1811, Jean Chalgrin passed away, and Louis-Robert Goust, a former student of Chalgrin, took over. In the following years, construction was halted due to the imperial defeat and invasion but resumed in 1824 under the watch of architect Jean-Nicolas Huyot. He proposed changes to the original design that were deemed risky. In 1832, he was replaced by architect Guillaume-Abel Blouet, who saw the monument's completion in 1836 under French King Louis-Phillipe.

The splendor of the monument is enhanced by the sculptures on its pillars. The four main sculptural groups on each pillar of the arch are:

• Le Départ de 1792 by François Rude. The sculpture celebrates the cause of the First French Republic during the 10 August Uprising of 1792.
• Le Triomphe de 1810 by Jean-Pierre Cortot. It celebrates the Treaty of Schonbrunn.
• La Résistance de 1814 by Antoine Étex. It remembers the French Resistance to the Allied armies during the War of the Sixth Coalition.
• La Paix de 1815 by Antoine Étex which commemorates the Treaty of Paris.

There are six reliefs, among others, sculpted on the facades of the arch, representing moments from the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era.

The Arc de Triomphe is a delight for visitors, as one can get a panoramic view of Paris from its rooftop. The awe-striking view includes monuments and structures in Paris like the Eiffel Tower, Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame, and Grand Palais.

Arc de Triomphe today

Arc de Triomphe was the tallest triumphal arch until the completion of the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City in 1938. Following its construction, the Arc also became the rallying point of French troops parading after successful military campaigns. The Arc de Triomphe is also the venue for the annual Bastille Day military parades and the last point on the annual Tour de France. Today, it remains one of the most famous Paris attractions, with over 1.7 million visitors every year.