How many steps are there on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris? Arc de Triomphe

Triumphal Arch- the famous triumphal arch located on Place Charles de Gaulle (the former name of the square was Place des Stars). Triumphal Arch located at the top of the Champs Elysees, on the hill of Chaillot. During construction, it was located outside the city limits, and the round Square of the Star (120 m in diameter) was adjacent to the city outpost of Chaillot. In 1854, the square received its modern “star-shaped” appearance, thanks to 12 streets that radiated from the square.

In 1969 the square was renamed and now bears the name of Charles de Gaulle.

Since the reign Louis XIV a direct road connected two royal residences - the Parisian Louvre Palace and the Palace of Versailles. The name of this road - “Triumphal Way” - is not outdated today: three arches stand here on one axis - the Carrousel near the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe on the Place de l'Etoile and the Grand Arch, built in our era in the ultra-modern La Défense quarter.

Here in 1806, immediately after the Battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon ordered the construction of a triumphal arch on the Parisian Chaillot hill in honor of the military victories won by France during the Revolution and during the First Empire. It took 2 whole years to build the foundation. In 1810, when the newly-crowned Empress Marie-Louise was supposed to solemnly enter the capital along the Champs Elysees, a “scenery” for the future arch was hastily made from boards and harsh canvas on a stone foundation. Napoleon did not live to see the completion of the Arc de Triomphe: it was completed only in 1836, during the reign of Louis Philippe.

The author of the project was the architect J.-F. Chalgrin, inspired by examples of triumphal arches Ancient Rome, which were erected in memory of a significant event, in honor famous person, deities. But the scale of the Parisian arch far exceeds the examples of the ancient world. The height of the triumphal arch is 50 m, width 45 m, the arch has one span, the dimensions of which are 14.2-29 m.

The grandiose five-meter frieze is decorated with relief images of the beginning of the campaign of the French army (eastern facade) and its return (western).

Thirty attic shields (upper tier), with the names of great battles engraved on them, recall victories in Europe and Africa. The pylons of the arch are decorated with bas-reliefs, the height of which is 12 m. The bas-reliefs of the Marseillaise by F. Rud and the Apotheosis of Napoleon Cortot are facing the Champs Elysees, Resistance to Invasion and the Apotheosis of the World of Etex - on the Avenue Great Army.

The most famous bas-relief Parisian Arc de Triomphe is the bas-relief of F. Ryud's Marseillaise or Performance of the Volunteers on the Campaign. This is a dynamic and full of expression composition, which shows warriors, seized by a single impulse, setting out on a campaign. Their movement is led by the figure of a winged goddess - this is an allegory of freedom, homeland, victory, revolution and folk song Marseillaise.

The names of Napoleonic officers are written under the arches of the small arches. Under the arch since 1920 there has been the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, above which burns an eternal flame in honor of the heroic warriors who died in the First World War.

Inside the arch there is a museum of the history of the Arc de Triomphe. There is an observation deck on the roof, which offers a magnificent view of the city.

The Arc de Triomphe, founded by Napoleon, never saw his triumph. But on December 15, 1840, a funeral cortege with Napoleon’s ashes, delivered from the island of St., passed under the arch. Elena. And in 1885 - a funeral procession with the ashes of V. Hugo. Later, after their death, Thiers, Gambetta, Lazare Carnot, MacMahon, Generals Foch and Joffre, General Philippe Leclerc, Marshal Lattre de Tassigny were honored with a solemn funeral ceremony with a stop under the arches of the Arc de Triomphe. On January 28, 1921, the remains of the Unknown Soldier, who died during the First World War, were buried under the arch.

Basic moments

The size of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is impressive and emphasizes its grandeur. The architectural structure rises to 49.5 m, has a width of 44.8 m and a vault height of over 29 meters. Although more than 180 years have passed since its construction, the arch in the French capital remains the largest of all the Arc de Triomphe in the world.

The famous monument stands in the historical center of the city, on the square named after Charles de Gaulle. From this place, 12 avenues are laid in different directions, the most famous of them is called “Champs Elysees”. The Arc de Triomphe is visible from all sides and is visited by many French and foreign tourists all year round. The area around the monument can be considered a real place of pilgrimage, since the routes of almost all excursions in Paris pass by it.

The “Triumphal Way” leads through the Arc de Triomphe, which is also called the “Royal Prospect”. This is a series of buildings and historical monuments stretched along one axis. It starts from the Louvre, continues through the Tuileries Gardens to the Place de la Concorde, and then along the Champs Elysees leads to the arch. The Triumphal Path does not end here. It extends even further from the city center - across the Boulevard Grande Armée to the Grande Arche de la Défense. The Arc de Triomphe in Paris lies in the middle of the “Royal Prospect”, and therefore from it you can clearly see both the buildings of the historical center of the city and the ultra-modern high-rise buildings of La Defense.

Construction of the Arc de Triomphe

In 1805, the army led by Napoleon won the “Battle of the Three Emperors” near Austerlitz. The Emperor really wanted to perpetuate the triumph of his soldiers, and ordered the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in the center of Paris.

Architects have prepared several designs for the monument. According to one of them, they planned to make the monument in the form of a huge elephant, in which a museum would be built telling about the victories of the French troops. However, the emperor's attention was attracted by the project of Jean-François Chalgrin, the court architect of Napoleon I, who chose the famous single-span Arch of Titus in Rome as the prototype for the Parisian monument.

The ancient monument appeared during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, in 81 AD. The Arch of Titus stood on the ancient Via Sacred, on the southeast side of the Roman Forum. The laconic, beautiful monument served as the prototype for many Arc de Triomphe built in modern times.

Like the Roman arch, the monument in the French capital was planned to have one expressive span and powerful supports. At the behest of Napoleon, Chalgrin designed french arch three times the size of the ancient Arch of Titus. The following year, work began on the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. And five years later, the elderly author of the monument died. This happened at a time when the arch was not completed in height by only 5 meters.

The construction of the Arc de Triomphe lasted for three decades due to a series of military defeats in France. In 1806-1807, a foundation was installed under the massive monument. In 1810, the emperor's bride, Maria Louise of Austria, arrived in the capital of France. In honor of her visit, the wooden scaffolding of the monument under construction was decorated with a stark canvas depicting the finished arch. So Napoleon was able to see his dream in the form of a large life-size model. End construction works happened to the architect Abel Blue. In 1836, when the Arc de Triomphe was finally built, the emperor who conceived it was no longer alive.

Historical events near the arch

In 1840, the ruler of France, Louis Philippe I, to please the Bonapartists, transported the ashes of Emperor Napoleon to his homeland from the place where he spent last years life. The remains were taken from the remote island of St. Helens, placed on a pompously decorated funeral cortege and carried with honors under the arches of the majestic Arc de Triomphe. Today, Napoleon's ashes are located in the building of the Invalides (Rue de Babylone, 70).

Since then, solemn funerals through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris have become state tradition. Funeral corteges passed under the famous monument famous writer Victor Hugo, politicians Louis Adolphe Thiers, Lazare-Hippolyte Carnot, Patrice de MacMahon and Leon Michel Gambetta, army generals Ferdinand Foch, Joseph Joffre and Philippe Leclerc, as well as Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny.

In 1921, the remains of the Unknown Soldier, who gave his life during the recent war, were moved under the Paris monument. And two years later, the Eternal Flame was installed here as a symbol of memory of all the inhabitants of France who did not return from the fields of the First World War.

Sculptural design

The solemnity of the Arc de Triomphe is determined not only by its large sizes, but also with carefully executed decor - ornaments, bas-reliefs and sculptures. Two sculptural compositions face the city center (Champs Elysees). On the right is a dynamic work by the French master François Rude. It is dedicated to the performance of volunteers against the Prussian army, which entered Lorraine in 1792, and is called “Marseillaise”. On the left side, the arch is decorated with a sculptural group made by Jean-Pierre Cortot. It is called "Triumph of 1815". In the central part of this composition, the sculptor depicted the figure of Napoleon himself.

On the side of Defense (Avenue de la Grande-Armée) there are two sculptures, the author of which is the famous French artist Antoine Etex. On the left you can see the "Peace of 1815", capturing the events Congress of Vienna. And on the right is a composition dedicated to the events of the French resistance in 1814.

Above the four sculptures, as well as on the sides of the Arc de Triomphe, there are 6 bas-reliefs with scenes of victories won by the French. On the side of Wagram Avenue there is an image of the battle near Austerlitz (1805), where the figures of Russian soldiers are visible. This bas-relief was created by Jean-François Théodore Gescher. And on the opposite side there is a work by Carlo Marochetti. The bas-relief commemorates the battle near the town of Jemappe in Belgium, which took place between the French and Austrians in 1792.

From the side of the city center you can see a bas-relief by Bernard Gabriel Serres or Serres the Elder, in which the military leader Ottoman Empire Said Mustafa Pasha is presented to Emperor Napoleon. These events occurred after the French victory at the Battle of Cape Abukir in Egypt (1799). And next to it is a bas-relief with a scene of the funeral of the French general Marceau, which happened in 1796.

From the side of the monument facing the modern Quarter of Défense, bas-reliefs are visible that immortalize two famous battles: the Battle of Arcola in Italy (1796) and the battle for the Egyptian Kanob, which took place two years later.

In addition, the names of 128 battles in which the French army was victorious, as well as the names of 660 military leaders, are written on the pillars of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The names of those who died in battle have been crossed out. The monument is surrounded by massive granite pedestals, which are connected by heavy cast iron chains. They commemorate the hundred days when Napoleon reigned.

Arc de Triomphe today

Every year on July 14, a magnificent military parade ceremony is held near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Parisians and city guests lay wreaths and fresh flowers at the grave and Memorial Flame. The president of the country and the remaining veterans take part in the celebration.

Inside the Parisian landmark there is a museum of the same name, where you can learn about the history of its construction and the events that took place near the Arc de Triomphe. And at the top of the monument there is an observation deck, which is very popular among tourists. The attention that this vantage point on Chaillot Hill attracts is not accidental. From here you have excellent views of the central part of the city and its suburbs. Having been to the top of the famous arch, you can understand why the path leading through it is called “Triumphal”.

For tourists, entrance to the observation deck and the museum exhibition is open seven days a week: from October to March from 10.00 to 22.30, and in other months - until 23.00.

How to get there

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris rises on Place Charles de Gaulle. You can get to the monument from the Paris metro station Charles de Gaulle Etoile. In addition, many city bus routes run to the square.

The Arc de Triomphe is a true symbol of Paris and the history of France. It is located on Place Charles de Gaulle (also called Place Etoile or Place des Stars) and is considered the largest in Europe.

Its height reaches 49.51 meters (vault - 29.19 meters), and width - 44.82 meters.

Story

Napoleon I Bonaparte in 1806, a year after the Battle of Austerlitz, ordered the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in honor of the revolution and military victories. We spent two years building the foundation. The architect Chalgrin was involved in the project.

In 1810, Napoleon married the Austrian princess Marie Louise. She was supposed to pass under the arches of this arch, but the structure was not yet ready. Before the celebration, an arch decoration was created from boards and canvas.

By 1811 the work was still not completed. The same year the architect who worked on the project died. By that time, another five meters of the arch had not been completed. For several years it stood unfinished in the center of Paris. Napoleon himself died in 1821 without seeing the completed project, which he had once initiated.

Under Emperor Louis-Philippe, the construction of the arch was completed thanks to the architect Abel Blouet. The year was 1836 then.

In 1840, a cortege carrying Napoleon's ashes passed under the arch. Then such mourning ceremonies were organized after the death of Victor Hugo, the world-famous French writer, politician Louis Adolphe Thiers, and General Joffre.

In 1821, a ceremony for the burial of the remains of the Unknown Soldier took place under the arch. The inscription on the slab reads: “Here lies a French soldier who died for the Fatherland in 1914 - 1918.”

Description of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Famous masters worked on the sculptural groups of the Arc de Triomphe. Among them: Jean-Jacques Pradier, Francois Rud, Jean-Pierre Cortot, Antoine Etex, Bernard Gabriel Serre, Jean-Jacques Fescher and others. All bas-reliefs and sculptural figures are made in the neoclassical style.

On the bas-reliefs under the arched doorway are winged maidens blowing fanfares. They became a symbol of glory and triumph.

On the side of the Champs Elysees there are bas-reliefs “Funeral of General Marceau” and “Presentation of a captured Turkish military commander to Napoleon Bonaparte.” From the avenue side - “The Battle of the Ancient Egyptian City of Kanob” and “The Battle of Arcola”. On the sides are the battles of Austerlitz and Jemappe.

Also on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris you can find a bas-relief depicting Napoleon Bonaparte. The Emperor appears with a laurel wreath of victory.

Below are four more sculptural groups. From the Champs-Elysees side - “Triumph of 1810” in honor of the signing of the Schönbrunn Peace and the end of the Austro-French War, as well as the most famous - “Campaign against the Prussian troops”. The sculptural group stands out from others with its expression and dynamism. It depicts warriors led by the winged goddess of victory. She became the personification of freedom, the Motherland and the revolutionary anthem “Marseillaise”. On the side of Avenue Grande Armée are the sculptures “Resistance of 1814” and “Peace of 1815”.

Around the Arc de Triomphe there are granite stones connected by chains. There are only 100 of them - exactly the same number of days that the second reign of Napoleon Bonaparte lasted.

Museum at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

There is a museum in the arch. There you will see not only exhibits related to revolutionary and military battles, but also with the help of interactive screens you can be transported to distant and significant events in history.

There is a wonderful viewing platform on the arch. To climb it, you need to climb 284 steps or take an elevator almost to the top and climb 46 steps.

On July 14, Bastille Day, a parade takes place here. It is believed that this is one of the most successful days to visit Star Square. However, the only negative is that on this day in the morning you cannot get into the arch itself.

Operating mode

The museum is open every day. Closed only on January 1, May 1, May 8 in the morning, July 14, November 11 in the morning and December 25.

• from January 2 to March 31 - from 10.00 to 22.30;
• from April 1 to September 30 - from 10.00 to 23.00;
• from October 1 to December 31 - from 10.00 to 22.30.

The cash register stops working half an hour before closing.

Ticket prices

Buy a ticket to visit the roof of the Arc de Triomphe without queuing:

• for adults - 12 euros;
• for students from 18 to 25 years old - 9 euros;
• for groups (more than 20 people) - 9 euros per person;
• For children and students under 17 years of age, admission is free.

How to get to the Arc de Triomphe

The arch is located on Star Square. You can get there in different ways:

• by metro on lines 1, 2 and 6 to the Charles de Gaulle - Etoile station;
• by buses No. 22, 30,31, 52, 73 and 92 to the stop “Charles de Gaulle - Etoile”;
• on a rented or personal car. Using the route on a google map you can find out how to get to the arch from Charles de Gaulle airport (travel time approximately 30-40 minutes)

You can also use the services of local taxi services - Taxi G7, Alpha Taxis, 01 Taxi, Taxis.

Arc de Triomphe on Google Panorama

Arc de Triomphe on video

Among the most beautiful cities of the Old World, Paris rightfully occupies one of the leading places. Its world-famous sights are awe-inspiring: the Eiffel Tower, and, of course, Triumphal Arch, which located on General Charles de Gaulle Square, formerly called Star Square. From the center of the square, where there is a monument erected in honor of those soldiers who died for France, the “beams” of twelve streets diverge.

Arc de Triomphe in Paris - description.

The triumphal arch was built in antique style and has U-shape. The prototype of the monument was the famous Roman Arch of Titus. Height of the Arc de Triomphe reaches 49.5 m, the width is almost 45 m, and the height of the vault of the central span is more than 29 m. The four pylons supporting the vault of the arch are decorated with sculptural bas-reliefs made by different sculptors. “Marseillaise” was created by François Rudeau, “The Triumph of Napoleon 1810” was created by Cortot, and “Resistance” and “Peace” belong to the Etex chisel. From the north and south, the passages between the pylons are designed in the form of small arched vaults.

The upper bas-reliefs of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris tell the story of 128 victories won by the French army. The names of 558 French officers who covered themselves with military glory are carved on the interior walls. The monument is surrounded by hundreds of granite pedestals connected by cast iron chains. They are a symbol of the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. There are 46 steps leading to the roof of the arch, where the observation deck is located. From the height of the monument, you can admire the stunning view of Paris and stand in delight when you see numerous monuments, buildings and avenues located on the same line, which are not for nothing called the “Triumphal Way”.

Arc de Triomphe inside.

Inside the monument there is a small museum with an exhibition where you can learn about the history of the creation of the Arc de Triomphe. There, under the dome of the arch, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the soldiers who died in the First World War of 1914-1918. An eternal flame burns above her, as a reminder of this.

The history of the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

After the victorious battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon Bonaparte decided to perpetuate the memory of this event. And on February 18, 1806, he gave the order to erect a structure that would correspond in importance to the victory he won. The original idea for the monument belonged to J.F. Chalgrin, after whose death the work was continued by the architects J.N. Yuyo, G. A. Blues, and L. Gu. Each of them made their own additions to the project, making the structure even more majestic than the Roman model.

At the end of the summer of 1807, the first foundation stone was laid, construction lasted about two years. For various reasons, the construction of the monument was postponed several times. Napoleon, who conceived this construction, never saw it completed. Entering Paris in 1810, he passed under the wooden arches of the model, and in 1814 (the year of his abdication) the Arc de Triomphe was only half erected.

With the coming to power of the Bourbon dynasty, construction was frozen and continued only in 1830. Six years later, on July 29, 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was opened. In 1840, only a funeral cortege was destined to pass under the arches of the monument, delivering the remains of the emperor for burial in the Palace of Invalides.

The height and width of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris are so enormous that in 1919, pilot Charles Godfrey flew an airplane through the arch to celebrate the end of the First World War. Over the past almost 180 years, the monument has suffered greatly. Atmospheric precipitation, urban smog and soil vibration caused by vehicle traffic led to cracking of the bas-reliefs and weakening of the strength of the masonry. Therefore, the Arc de Triomphe is in need of restoration work, the last of which took place in 2003 and 2008.

Arc de Triomphe in Paris (France) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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The majestic Arc de Triomphe is a famous architectural monument and simply a symbol of Paris, located on Charles de Gaulle Square.

Construction of the arch began by order of Emperor Napoleon after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806. The construction of one foundation took about two years; the arch acquired its final form only in 1836, when Bonaparte was already resting on the island of St. Helena in his grave. A century later, in 1921, the remains of the Unknown Soldier who died in the First World War were buried under the arch's arches.

Interesting fact: when Paris awaited the visit of Empress Marie-Louise in 1810, the arch was not yet ready. Then, on the stone foundation, a “scenery” of the future arch was created from boards and canvas.

The two main sculptural groups face the center - the famous “Marseillaise” by Ryud (“Departure of the Volunteers 1792”) and “Triumph of 1810” by Cortot with Napoleon in the center. On the sides of the arch are bas-reliefs of the triumphal victories of the imperial army. You can also find our compatriots on the side of Wagram Street (victory at Austerlitz).

Triumphal Arch

Today, the tradition of lighting the Memorial Flame is directly connected with the majestic arch. The arch is decorated with stunning bas-reliefs by F. Ryud. Inside the monument there is a museum of the same name; in addition, anyone can go up to the observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of Paris.