{"id":23912,"date":"2024-07-05T18:23:18","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T18:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/?p=23912"},"modified":"2025-12-10T19:35:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:35:48","slug":"everything-to-know-about-the-arc-de-triomphe-before-you-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/everything-to-know-about-the-arc-de-triomphe-before-you-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything To Know About the Arc de Triomphe Before You Go\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paris is not only a city of lights, but of breathtaking monuments. It\u2019s no surprise the most celebrated monument in the city is the Eiffel Tower<\/a>. The Notre Dame Cathedral probably takes second place. But rounding out the trifecta of iconic Parisian monuments in none other than the Arc de Triomphe. This marvel of Neoclassical architecture attracts scores of visitors every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you see the arch in all its splendor, here\u2019s what you should know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to find the Arc de Triomphe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I know, this seems like a no-brainer, but you\u2019d be surprised. A common mistake many tourists make is not actually knowing where the Arc de Triomphe is. You\u2019ll find a smaller arch known as the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel right by the Louvre museum<\/a> in Paris\u2019 1st arrondissement. You\u2019ll also find tons of tourists snapping photos of it. It\u2019s nice, sure, but this triumphal arch is much smaller than the main attraction. Just know that if you\u2019re anywhere near the iconic Louvre pyramid and you see an arch with a horse-drawn chariot on top, you\u2019re at the wrong place.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Arc de Triomphe de Carrousel near the Louvre \u2014 not the Arc de Triomphe we’re talking about<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The actual Arc de Triomphe is in the Eighth Arrondissement of Paris, right at the center of a huge roundabout at the western stretch of the famous Avenue des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es. Coming in at 164 feet high and 148 feet wide<\/a>, you can\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easily accessible from the Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile stop on metro lines 1, 2, and 6 and RER line A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Paris has the Arc de Triomphe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The arch isn\u2019t just a pretty face (or fa\u00e7ade). A rich history that dates back to Napoleon Bonaparte\u2019s reign gives the monument its own interesting backstory. In 1805, Napoleon’s forces won a decisive victory over Russian and Austrian troops at the Battle of Austerlitz. So the French emperor decided to celebrate by ordering the construction of an arch worthy of such a victory. French architect Jean-Fran\u00e7ois-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Chalgrin was tasked with designing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later \u2014 and on the ruler\u2019s birthday, no less  \u2014 the project broke ground: a Neoclassical design in the style of the Arch of Titus in Rome. It wasn\u2019t completely finished until 30 years later when the arch was officially opened by King Louis-Phillipe on July 29, 1836.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the years since then, a few armies have marched past the arch as a sort of victory lap. Germany did so in 1871 and again in 1940. France and its allies did in 1918, 1944 and 1945 during the world wars. But today, the Arc de Triomphe is seen more as a symbol of the end of World War II. Every year, a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, buried below the arch, marks the anniversary of the Armistice signed on Nov. 11 1918.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to experience the Arc de Triomphe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One way to experience the Arc de Triomphe is to climb to the top of it. From there, you\u2019ll get a panoramic view of the city. You can take an elevator part of the way, but to get all the way to the top, you have to take the stairs. It\u2019s a 284-step journey from top to bottom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s an observation deck at the top, where you can spot other monuments in the city with the help of a map. If you aim your camera between the metal spikes guarding the top, you should be able to snap a good picture of the Eiffel Tower.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The
The Eiffel Tower as seen from the Arc de Triomphe<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A word of advice \u2014 don\u2019t try to cross the actual roundabout. The Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es might be the most famous street in Paris, but it’s also one of the busiest. There\u2019s a pedestrian tunnel at Place Charles de Gaulle on the north side of the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es that will take you down to the arch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to do nearby<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Place<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What is there to do, you might ask? What isn\u2019t there to do? You could take a dozen different paths \u2014 literally a dozen. The arch is located right at Place Charles de Gaulle, from which 12 different boulevards stretch out, making a star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re like me and more of a nature lover, you\u2019re in luck. You\u2019re a 20-minute walk from Parc Monceau to the east or Bois du Boulogne to the west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you came to Paris for a shopping spree, you\u2019re definitely in the right neighborhood. The arch opens onto the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es, a shopping district with all the high-end luxury brands from Chanel to Louis Vuitton. And if you have a sweet tooth or want to take back chic French goodies for your friends, stop by Ladur\u00e9e on the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es to try one of their macarons. From rose to pistachio, the pastry shop offers more than a dozen flavors<\/a> to take home in their iconic pastel green boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Macarons
Macarons from Ladur\u00e9e<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you really want the star treatment, you can end your day with dinner at the high-end Parisian brasserie Fouquet\u2019s<\/a>, a gourmet restaurant a stone\u2019s throw away from the arch. It\u2019s posh. Every year, the restaurant hosts Parisian movie stars for the prestigious C\u00e9sar awards, not unlike the Oscars in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answers to Your Questions About the Arc de Triomphe<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"arc<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

How much does it cost to visit the Arc de Triomphe?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Good question. Depends on who you are. For the average adult, it costs \u20ac13. That price goes down if you\u2019re in a group of 20 or more people. But it\u2019s free if you\u2019re under 18 or a European Union resident between the ages of 18 and 25. The arch is also free to disabled persons and one of their guests. You can find more pricing information on the official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it worth going up the Arc de Triomphe?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It depends. If you want a bird\u2019s-eye view of one of Paris\u2019 most celebrated streets, then go for it. But I\u2019d say a walk around the base is just as photo-worthy. In fact, I spent New Year\u2019s Eve enjoying the fireworks launched around the arch\u2019s base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to panoramic photo opps, I have to say my favorite view of the city is from the top of the Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur in Montmartre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you walk from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s doable, but bring your walking shoes (and water). It\u2019s a half-hour walk from one monument to the other. If you love roaming the city like I do, it\u2019s a nice way to get some exercise and sightseeing done at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the triumphal view<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There you have it: some of the essentials for your trip to the Arc de Triomphe. The first time I went, I wasn\u2019t expecting it to be as big as it is. I craned my neck, peered into the sky and quickly understood why it\u2019s been a symbol of victory throughout generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Paris monuments. Notre Dame is a good 60 feet taller. And the Eiffel Tower<\/a> is about five times as tall. Whether you have just one day in Paris<\/a> or a little longer, don\u2019t miss the arch and the busy Avenue des Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es. Both are easy to add to your visit, and you don\u2019t need to climb the Arc de Triomphe to enjoy its grandeur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paris is not only a city of lights, but of breathtaking monuments. It\u2019s no surprise the most celebrated monument in the city is the Eiffel Tower. The Notre Dame Cathedral probably takes second place. But rounding out the trifecta of iconic Parisian monuments in none other than the Arc de Triomphe. This marvel of Neoclassical<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":23913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23912"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23912"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38325,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23912\/revisions\/38325"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}