Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile
The 50-meter Arc de Triomphe commissioned by Napoleon, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath it. From the top you can see the 12 avenues radiating from the star-shaped square and the Eiffel Tower.
The Arc de Triomphe stands at the center of the star-shaped Place Charles de Gaulle (Place de l'Étoile) at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. Napoleon ordered it built in 1806 to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz, and it was completed in 1836. It stands about 50 meters high and 45 meters wide and is one of the world's most famous triumphal arches. The large reliefs on its four pillars are best known for Rude's *The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792*, commonly called *La Marseillaise*. The inner vault is inscribed with the names of hundreds of generals and battles. Beneath the arch lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of World War I, where the eternal flame is relit every evening at 6:30 p.m. To reach the top, climb 284 spiral steps. A small exhibition space sits on the middle level. The summit terrace offers a 360-degree view of the 12 avenues radiating from the square, the full length of the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, and the modern Grande Arche at La Défense. Sunset and night views are most recommended. Admission is about €16. Visitors under 18, and EU residents under 26, enter free. Booking a time slot online reduces waiting. Note: the arch sits in the middle of a large roundabout. Enter through the underpass on the north side of the Champs-Élysées or from Avenue de la Grande Armée, and never cross the traffic on foot. Take Metro Lines 1, 2, or 6, or RER A, to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile station.
Opening hours
April–September 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; October–March 10:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m. (last entry 45 minutes earlier)
Nearby sights
- Trocadéro & Palais de Chaillot
- Champs-Élysées
- Eiffel Tower
- Seine River Cruise
- Pont Alexandre III
- Les Invalides
- Musée Rodin
- Musée de l'Orangerie