The Arc de Triomphe, Paris

The Arc de Triomphe, Paris (France)

The Arc de Triomphe de ltoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris France standing at the western end of the Champs-lyses at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle formerly named Place de ltoilethe toile or star of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues. The location of the arc and the plaza is shared between three arrondissements 16th 17th and 8th. The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. As the central cohesive element of the Axe historique the Arc de Triomphe was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806 its iconographic programme pits heroically nude French youths against bearded Germanic warriors in chain mail. It set the tone for public monuments with triumphant patriotic messages. Inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome Italy the Arc de Triomphe has an overall height of 50 metres width of 45 m and depth of 22 m while its large vault is 29.19 m high and 14.62 m wide.