One of the symbols of Paris is the majestic large Arc de Triomphe, which rises in the center of the Place de la Star (Place d’Etoile – Charles de Gaulle).
At Bonaparte’s behest.
The erection of the monument is connected with the name of Napoleon, who after the battle of Austerlitz decided to glorify in the centuries of victories won by him, issuing a decree on February 2, 1806. Several variants of the monument were presented to the emperor, among which he preferred the antique-style design by the architect Schalgren.
In August of the same year, the laying of the great Arc de Triomphe took place, during which Bonaparte personally laid the first stone in the form of a shield. However, construction progressed slowly, and after Napoleon’s fall it was abandoned.
A symbol of glory and remembrance
In 1830, King Louis-Philippe decided to complete the monument, which was finished six years later. In 1840, a funeral procession carrying Napoleon’s ashes for reburial in the Paris Invalides House passed under the arches of the monument. Later on, the Arc de Triomphe became both a symbol of glory and a sign of remembrance of the French military. In 1921, the remains of an unidentified soldier who fell on the fields of the First World War were buried near its walls, and a little later the eternal flame was lit here.
Now military parades and solemn wreath-laying ceremonies with the presence of the highest state officials are held at the monument.
Architectural monument
The Grande Arc de Triomphe in Paris is characterized by its calibrated proportions and harmonious appearance. It is a typical monument of the Classicist era, based on the ancient arches of Janus and Titus. The names of 558 French commanders and 128 names of battles (among them Moskowa, i.e. the Battle of Borodino, which Napoleon considered his victory) are inscribed on the walls of the opening. The exterior of the monument is decorated with numerous bas-reliefs and four large sculptural groups. The expressive work by F. Rüd “The Volunteers’ Performance”, also known as “Marseillaise”, is particularly famous.
Tourist attraction
Inside the monument there is a museum, which tells about Napoleon’s military campaigns and the construction of the monument. The observation deck at the top of the Arch is very popular, offering magnificent views of the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Elysees, the modern La Défense quarter and other areas of the French capital.
Interesting facts
- Napoleon originally wanted to install the Arc de Triomphe in the Place de la Bastille, but the Minister of the Court of Champagny suggested a more advantageous location.
- Traditionally, funeral corteges with the remains of famous military leaders and political figures stop under the arches. In 1885, the writer Victor Hugo received this honor.
- On August 7, 1919, the French pilot Charles Godefroy, who had recently returned from the war, managed to fly under the arches of the Arch on a biplane.
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