Arch in France. The Arc de Triomphe is a symbol of the invincibility of the French army. Harmony from the observation deck

14.01.2020

Triumphal Arch is a key symbol in French history. It is located on the Place de l'Etoile, overlooking the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Paris' Arc de Triomphe is the largest in the world. Every year this amazing place visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world globe. It attracts with its grandeur, luxury and uniqueness.

A little history

The idea of construction arose the day after the Battle of Austerlitz. The Arc de Triomphe in Paris was built between 1806 and 1836 under the direction of the architect Jean Chalgrin at the direction of Napoleon. The foundation was built over the course of two years.

The foundation of this structure was completed at the time of his marriage to the Austrian Archduchess Marie-Louise in 1810, in honor of her ceremonial entry into Paris.

Construction was completed after Bonaparte's death.

The basic structure of the monument was completed in 1831, and all work was completed in 1836 during the reign of King Louis Philippe, who officially opened it on July 29.

The facade of the structure consists of figures, curls and bas-reliefs.

Despite numerous modifications since its construction, reflecting political changes and power struggles, today it retains the essence of the original concept and is a powerful unified ensemble.

The structure rises in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as "Etoile". It is located in the western part of the Champs Elysees.

Design ideas

When constructing the arch, the neoclassical style was taken as a basis, inspired in part by the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum. Decorative sculptures in high relief depicting the celebration of the military victories of the Revolution and the First Empire are executed on the four pedestals of the arch façade.

An annual ceremony is held near the Arc de Triomphe to mark the anniversary of the 1918 Armistice that ended the First World War.

The final of the Tour de France takes place under the towering Arc de Triomphe.

In 1810, Napoleon entered the city with his bride, Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria. For this purpose, a wooden mock-up of the structure was built to demonstrate appearance finished monument.

The last path of the remains of Napoleon and Victor Hugo passed in this place.

In 1919, French pilot Charles Godefroy flew his plane under the arch, earning himself worldwide popularity.

Getting to know the Arc de Triomphe

This unique work of art can be admired from below, standing on the ground, or climbed to its upper part by stairs.

Louvre Museum

Climbing up to the panoramic terrace offers a wonderful view of the city. This is the best place to admire the tight geometry of the city plan of Paris, invented by Napoleon's prefect III Baron Georges-Eugene Hausmann, who erased the city's medieval slums by creating wide city boulevards. They were decorated with rows of neatly trimmed plane trees, enhancing the effectiveness and uniqueness of the streets.

From the top you have a superb view of the Champs Elysees towards the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. No the best way appreciate how majestic and impressive this street is from above! From here you can also see the Eiffel Tower in all its glory.

There is constant movement around the arch, because the flow of tourists never stops here.

There is an underground tunnel on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side, which can be accessed via the metro with an exit at Wagram station.

Inside this unique monument there is a museum of the same name with interactive exhibits on the history of the arch.

Permanent exhibition "Great Moments" French history» uses interactive screens to interact with visitors and play historical events and moments. She traces the history of the Arc de Triomphe and other examples of similar structures around the world, highlighting architectural features and explaining the friezes and sculptures adorning the columns.

The final part of the visit to the Arc de Triomphe of Paris is at an altitude of 50 meters, where the terrace offers an impressive panoramic view of Paris and the Champs-Elysees, both day and night.

Pantheon. Among the famous buildings of Paris is also the Arc de Triomphe, located on Place Charles de Gaulle. Monumental and majestic, it was erected by order of Napoleon in honor of the victories of his great army.

History of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Napoleon signed the decree on the construction of the Arc de Triomphe on February 18, 1806. The arch should become a new symbol of invincibility French army.

After Chalgrin's death, the work was continued by the architects L. Gu, J. N. Huyo and G. A. Blouet, each of whom tried to convey some of his own ideas in the building. Models for the Arc de Triomphe, despite the fact that it was built under the direction of different people, the ancient Roman buildings still remained, only the French arch, according to the plans, was supposed to become much more majestic.

On August 15, 1807, the first foundation stone was laid. Construction began, which, however, was interrupted more than once, mainly for political reasons.

In 1814, Napoleon abdicated the throne. But the arch was not ready yet. Its supports rose only half the planned height. The Bourbon Empire was restored, there was no need to exalt Napoleon, so construction stopped.

8 years have passed. The idea arose again to continue the construction of the arch, but now it had a different purpose. The triumphal arch was supposed to reflect the solemnity of France's victory over. In 1830, they decided to return to the idea that the arch should still glorify the achievements of the French army during the Republic and under Napoleon. This decision turned out to be final. Six years later, on July 29, 1836, the grand opening took place.

On December 15, 1840, a funeral cortege with Napoleon's ashes, delivered from the island of St., was carried under the arch. Elena. Later, Thiers, Gambetta, Victor Hugo, Lazar Carnot, MacMahon, Generals Foch and Joffre, General Leclerc, and Marshal Lattre de Tassigny were honored with a solemn funeral ceremony with a stop under the arches of the Arc de Triomphe.

Features of the structure of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

The Arc de Triomphe is located at the end of the Champs Elysees on a hill, in the center large area, which received the name in honor of the famous commander Charles de Gaulle. 12 streets branch off from this square.

The facades of the Arc de Triomphe face the Champs Elysees, descending to the Place de la Concorde, to the Tuileries Garden and to. On the other side of the arch is the Avenue de la Grande-Arme, the perspective of which ends with skyscrapers and the Grand Arch of the La Défense quarter.

The arch has a classic U-shape. The impressive size is impressive. The height of the arch is 50 meters, width is 45 meters.

The arch has one central opening. There are two more small openings on the north and south sides.

The Arc de Triomphe is crowned with a 5-meter frieze, the bas-reliefs of which tell the story of the great deeds of the French army. At the very top of the arch there is an attic - a kind of built-on wall. It is engraved with a list of 30 major battles Napoleonic army.

On each side of the arch there are relief images of the battles of Austerlitz and Aboukir.

At the top there is an observation deck, very popular among tourists. Inside the arch itself there is a small museum of the history of the arch itself.

In 1920, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier appeared at the foot of the arch, in honor of those killed in the war of 1914-1918, and the Eternal Flame was lit over the grave. The inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reads: “Here lies a soldier who gave his life for his Motherland, 1914-1919.”

In 1986, the Arc de Triomphe turned 150 years old. Over the course of a century and a half, it has deteriorated quite badly: the bas-reliefs have cracked, the connections between the stones have weakened. To avoid accidents due to possible falling stones, protective nets were installed here. The examination showed that the cause of the “illness” of the arch was pollution and the effects of rain, which caused uneven settlement of the monument. To save this symbol of national greatness, a number of measures were proposed: strengthening the upper part of the monument and facades, restoring sculptures, strengthening the foundation by injecting concrete, filling the space between stones, etc. The cost of all these operations amounted to 35 million francs. Part of this amount is allocated by the Ministry of Culture, and part comes in the form of donations from individuals and organizations. The complete restoration of the Arc de Triomphe was completed by 1990.

The Arc de Triomphe is perhaps known all over the world. This is one of national symbols France. Nowadays, official events are held near the Arc de Triomphe: holidays, parades, processions.

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 skip-the-line ticket to visit the roof of the Arc de Triomphe:

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

The Arc de Triomphe is a famous triumphal arch located on Place Charles de Gaulle (the square's former name 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 of 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 of a famous person or deity. 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 are on the Avenue de la Grande Armée.

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 the folk song of the 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.

The reign of the Roman Empire left behind many discoveries, traditions, and architectural landmarks. Among them, an invaluable reward stands out for commanders who won a quick victory with minimal losses, called a triumphal procession. The famous Gaius Julius Caesar was named great emperor after entering Rome in triumph under a special triumphal arch. Since then, majestic buildings began to appear in different places on the planet.

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Construction of the symbol of Paris as architectural monument The Arc de Triomphe, designed by the French Emperor Napoleon. She was required to perpetuate the victory of the man who remade the map of the entire Old World. The construction of the structure took 30 long years. Napoleon and the architects Chalgrin and Abel Blouse did not see its completion. But the majestic structure preserved these names for posterity.

It is located in the center famous square Charles de Gaulle. The life story of the great commander of the Second World War can be heard during excursions, standing next to the ceremonial building. Other names for the place are Place de l'Etoile, "Place of the Stars". In different directions from the square, as if from the Arc de Triomphe, 12 avenues diverge in strict rays.

Each of them is considered a landmark of the city. It seems that the arch still invites strong people, not only soldiers of Napoleon’s army, but also those known for their achievements in various directions, to celebrate their victory and triumph here.

Napoleon's order to begin construction of the Arc de Triomphe began to be implemented after the Battle of Austerlitz. The site for the future landmark of Paris was initially chosen to be a section of Rue Antoine. The walls of the gloomy Bastille used to stand here. However, the building could complicate traffic, and the construction site was moved to the ancient star-shaped crossroads of Chaillot and Ternes. In former times, by order of Pompadour's brother, the Marquis de Marigny completely removed the soil from the high hill, opening a direct passage to the Champs-Elysees.

The place has become a favorite place for walking among residents. The triumphal arch complemented the magnificent view from the imperial palace of Tuileries, located on top of the Chaillot hill. The front facade of the building is directed towards the palace, welcoming the passing emperor. The first foundation stone was laid on August 15, the emperor's birthday. The basis of the construction project was the Arch of Constantine in Rome. The architect increased its size, making the structure the largest of the existing Arc de Triomphe.

Construction of the foundation took about two years. An interesting event happened at this time. It is associated with Marie Louise's passage along the Champs Elysees in Paris. On the finished foundation, decorations in the shape of the Arc de Triomphe were quickly erected from wood and fabrics. Only in 1836, under the reign of Louis Philippe, construction was completed. The walls of the arch are decorated with an interesting ensemble of bas-reliefs associated with the events of the victories of Emperor Napoleon, whose ashes rested on the island since 1821 Pacific Ocean Saint Helena.

The coffin with the body of the emperor passed in a funeral cortege under the arches of the architectural creation he created in December 1840. The Parisian landmark became the site of the farewell procession of the country's great people, for example, Victor Hugo, Lazare Carnot, etc. Unfortunately, the fascist army of the evil dictator Hitler demonstratively marched under it during the Second World War.

Description

The height of the arch is almost 50 m, the width is about 45 m, the height of the arch reaches 29.19 m. Sculptures of beautiful women with wings blowing fanfares symbolize the triumph of the winners passing under the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. The architectural structure is decorated with interesting sculptural groups:

In the direction of the Champs Elysees. The bas-relief “Triumph of 1810” or “Apothesis of Napoleon” dedicated to the signing of the Treaty of Vienna is memorable. The names of 558 generals of Napoleon's army who took part in important battles are stamped here. The bas-reliefs “The Battle of Austerlitz”, “The Capture of Alesandria”, “The Battle of Aboukir”, “Resistance to the Invasion of 1814”, “Arcole Bridge”, “Marseillaise” are directly related to Napoleon’s victories. The central part of Francois Rude's work is occupied by the figure of a strong, beautiful Amazon, calling her people to battle.
Direction to Grand Armais Avenue. Sculptural groups of bas-reliefs “Battle of Arcola”, “Battle of Kanob”, names of 128 battles.
100 granite pedestals, which are connected by massive cast iron chains and surround the arch. This is the number of days that made up Napoleon's reign.

Inside the building there is a museum, with artifacts in the form of photographs, documents, printed publications, telling about the history of creation, characteristics of all the events that took place here. Under the arched vaults there is a grave with the ashes of the Unknown Soldier, who participated in the battles of the First World War.

Arc de Triomphe now

Currently, the landmark is still a symbol military power France. Underneath you can hear the military music of parades with tanks, modern weapons, taking place during special events, for example, on Bastille Day. At this time, the national flag of the country flutters victoriously over its walls. Every day at 18.30 a moving ceremony takes place here when war veterans light up memorial fire at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Observation deck

There are 280 steps in total leading to observation deck, organized on top of an architectural structure, will turn out to be light, simple when remembering the beautiful view obtained on it. Especially if you overcome them at dusk. The last rays of the setting sun illuminate the surroundings, playing on the marble walls of adjacent landmarks with an extraordinary light. A night trip along the illuminated arch allows you to take amazing pictures of the sparkling lights of the buildings of Paris, the Eiffel Tower stretching beyond the horizon, and the beautiful avenues of the city.

Where is it and how to get there

You can get to Star Square by bus or metro. You need to get off at the stop Place Charles de Gaulle. You can visit the arch daily from April to the end of October from 10 am to 11 pm. During the period October-March, the opening hours of the attraction last from 10 to 22.30 hours. The entrance ticket price is 8€, reduced price is 5€.