Explore the Arc de Triomphe in Paris - Historical symbol in France
Arc de Triomphe - a great architectural work bearing the mark of France, this place is also a historical witness to the glorious victory of the people of Paris. The Arc de Triomphe is located in the center of Charles-de-Gaulle Square, the final destination of the famous Champs Elysées walk of fame. This is also a bustling center, clearly demonstrating the lifestyle and uniqueness of modern culture in Paris.
1. Some information about the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
In 1616, Queen Marie de' Medici decided to build a long path surrounded by trees for people to walk. This street is now Champs Elysées - the most famous avenue in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe is an architectural work located at the western end of Champs Elysées Avenue, right in the center of Etoile Square - a place where a large number of tourists visit.
Arc de Triomphe (French: L'arc de triomphe de l'Etoile) - a structure in Paris built in 1806 during the reign of Emperor Napoleon I to honor the French army and commemorate the wars their glorious work. Construction of the Arc de Triomphe stopped in 1814 after Emperor Napoleon I ceased his rule. Work continued and was completed in 1836 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe.
The Arc de Triomphe has an extremely prime location at the intersection of 12 avenues and 3 major districts in France. In mid-May and early January, visitors can watch the sunset over the Arc de Triomphe while standing on the Champs Elysées.
2. Historical significance of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
The Arc de Triomphe is not only an architectural work built to praise and commemorate the heroic victories of the French army, but also a symbol of the patriotism of the French people. This was once the place where national funerals were held, the largest of which was the state funeral of the great writer Victor Hugo in 1885. His coffin was placed under the arch for all Parisians to visit and express their condolences. respect.
Located in the heart of Paris, the Arc de Triomphe is where many major events, ceremonies and events take place throughout the year. Every time France's National Day comes, a military parade is held here in front of a large crowd of French people. In addition, there are many cultural and sports activities and major festivals such as celebrating the New Year and the Tour de France bicycle tournament are also held regularly in the area.
As one of the symbols with great historical, political and cultural significance, the Arc de Triomphe ranks 10th in the list of the most attractive architectural works in Paris. This will definitely be a destination not to be missed when you have the opportunity to set foot in this beautiful city.
3. The best time to visit the Arc de Triomphe
Because this is a famous monument in Paris, a large number of tourists come here every day. Therefore, people need to choose the right time to have enough space to take photos and visit. 
The Arc de Triomphe is open from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Everyone can be proactive about their time and make detailed travel plans that are most suitable. We recommend visiting the Arc de Triomphe in the evening or late afternoon. This time helps you avoid the crowds of tourists, admire the romantic sunset and enjoy the nighttime beauty of the city.
4. Explore the architecture of the Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is a historical symbol designed by famous architect Jean-Francois Chalgrin (1739-1811). This work has a classic dome architecture made entirely of white stone, 50m high, 45m wide and 22m deep. The front of the Arc de Triomphe is relatively square and decorated with reliefs and statues on all sides.
There are 558 statues of many great figures in French history. The four largest sculptures are "Departure 1792" and "Triumph 1810" facing the Champs Elysées, "Resistance 1814" and "Peace 1815" facing the Grande-Armée. Inside, the four legs of the Arc de Triomphe are decorated with many reliefs depicting famous battles in French history. A total of 6 bas-reliefs, 4 above the statues and 2 on either side, clearly depict important periods and famous events in the French revolution and empire.
Besides, on the surface of the Arc de Triomphe there are countless other small reliefs. The inside of the four legs is decorated with bas-reliefs of many famous battles of the imperial and revolutionary periods. The names of famous generals from that historical period are engraved on the feet
Since 1920, there has been a mausoleum of an unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe. This is the grave of a French soldier who died young at the Battle of Verdun in World War I. After that, the fire will be lit on the mausoleum at 6:30 pm every day. From the ground, tourists can take the elevator or climb 284 steps to reach the top floor. This is the location of the exhibition room, displaying paintings, photos, and maps related to the construction of the Arc de Triomphe through the ages.
In addition, on the observation deck at the top, tourists can easily see beautiful views of Elysée Avenue, Louvre museum, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur cathedral and the new area La Défense. To reach the foot of the construction, tourists can use the Ky Niem walkway (French name is Passage du Souvenir) built underground below the square.
