Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Favorite thing: Raised over command of Napoleon Ier, the Arch of Triumph dominates the Avenue of the Champs-Elysees. Its construction began in 1806 and ended in 1836, 15 years after the Napoleon's death.-

Construída a pedido de Napoleón I, comenzó en 1806 y terminó en 1836, 15 años despúes de la muerte de Napoleón.

Fondest memory: Inside the Arch, a small museum documents its history and construction. The price of admission includes access to the top of the Arch. The perspective of The Louvre - Place de la Concorde, Les Champs Elisees, La Defense is superb. It's one of the most beautiful panorama of Paris.-

Dentro del arco, un pequeño museo documenta su construcción y su historia. El precio de la entrada incluye el acceso a la terraza del arco. La perspectiva del Louvre, la Place de la Concorde, los Campos Eliseos y la Defense desde allí, es excelente.-

Favorite thing: Read up on your history!

1806: Napoleon ordered the construction of this triumphal arch in honor of his glorious armies after the Battle of the Three Emperors at Austerlitz.
Architect: Jean-Francois Chalgrin (1739-1811).
1836: Completion of Arch.
1840: Napoleon's mortal remains brought home through the completed Arc de Triomphe.
1885: Hearse bearing Victor Hugo's coffin stood beneath the arch for 2 full days.
1921: An unknown French soldier (symbolising the 1,390,000 who perished during World War I) laid to rest beneath the arch.

Fondest memory: Not a fond memory... more somber than anything.

The Tombeau du Soldat Inconnu (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier): 1st memorial of its kind in the world.

Favorite thing: Well, everyone has seen this one before, right?
Who hasn't? :-)

ARC DE TRIOMPHE: Situated at the hub of Haussmann's web of 12 avenues & is the ultimate symbol of Napoleon's military pretensions and might.

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821): His 14-year reign (1800-1814) changed the Parisian skyline and his military campaigns made Paris capital of the greatest European empire since Charlemagne.

Fondest memory: The Arc de Triomphe is reached via a tunnel from the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. Here, you see lots of sculpted decorations & statues which glorify Napoleon's victories.

This is my friend Jenny & me in front of the statues glorifying Napoleon's Triumph after the Peace of 1810.

You'd have thought it was our glory, won't you? :-)))

Favorite thing: There is always something to do in Paris: the museums, the sites, or just plain walking around!
Probably my most favorite thing about Paris is just the energy that the city gives off. You can feel it all around you, night and day! Not many cities in the world can claim to grab you when you get there and pull you in so quickly and not let you go!!

Fondest memory: I wouldn't call it my fondest memory, but if you go see the arch, forget finding that tunnel that will get you out there safely! Just run across the street!! It just seems to make it a little more adventurous that way, and another memory that you can pack away in your vacation file!!

Favorite thing: I like to see the major tourist attractions.
Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, it was not finished until 1836.
There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars.

Fondest memory: Every moment in Paris is memorable....too many to chose.

Favorite thing: Climb up the stairs of Arc de Triomphe and look down Champs Elysees.
I went up around 8pm and was planning to stay there to take some night shots. But the sun did not set until after 10pm in May, and the city did not light up until after that (this was in May)! So plan your time carefully.

You can get a good view of most part of the city up there. Compare that to the views from the Eiffel Tower, Samaritan, and Sacre Couer in my other photos. A unique view from Arc de Triomphe is the traffic circle down below. It certainly is a big traffic circle!

Favorite thing: Such a lovely experience when you go to the platform at the top of the Arc de Triomphe for some grand views of Paris. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is the largest triumphal arch in the world. it's on high ground at the center of the star (etoile) formed by 12 avenues radiating out from a ring road around the Arc.