Paris Guide: Arc de Triomphe

Address | lace Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

After a satisfying breakfast at Ten Belles Bread, we headed to the Arc de Triomphe.  We circled the Place Charles de Gaulle a bit puzzled as to where to cross to reach the monument.  It took a moment before Lynette recalled that in fact you have to walk down the stairs in what looks like a subway station but is a tunnel which leads, under the traffic, to the entrance of the Arc de Triomphe.  This was my first time visiting the monument and I was really  impressed by the up close sight of the arc.  The Arc de Triumph was initiated by Napoleon in 1806, but it wasn't inaugurated until 1836 by King Louis-Philippe, who dedicated it to the armies of the Revolution and the Empire. When visiting, you'll immediately notice the prominent inscriptions on the Arc.   The inscriptions are an homage to the French soldiers of the French Revolutionary and Napoleanic Wars, you'll find the names of French victories and generals.  

We purchased our tickets and headed up the narrow winding stairs. In the video I've included below, you'll see it's quite a climb so make sure you're in good shape before your visit! Once we reached the top, in immediate sight were breath taking views of Paris.    

You can circle the parameters and get a full panoramic view of Paris.  From Sacre Cour to the Eiffel Tower to our next destination, the Fondation Louis Vuitton all the way in the 16th arrondissement, you can see it all. It was really stunning and made more beautiful by the low glow of the November sun.

We spent quality time mapping out Paris and understanding the layout and just taking in the views.  After awhile we headed back down.  Beneath the vault of the Arc de Triomphe is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.  Everyday at 6:30 p.m. the flame is ignited.  As I mentioned before, we were visiting during the Armistice holiday and as you can see in the video below there were many wreaths laid and visitors paying their respects.

While I recommend that the Eiffel Tower has the best views of Paris, this is also an excellent experience and opportunity to see the city from another perspective.