Arc de Triomphe: France

Parisians refer to the Arc de Triomphe as L’Etoile, and revere it as a symbol of French national spirit. Located in the center of the worlds largest roundabout, the Arc de Triomphe towers 164 feet above the ground. Intricate carvings by Romantic sculpture Francois Rude adorn the exterior of the edifice, while beneath the L’Etoile lies the unknown solider. Visitors may climb 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for an outstanding view of Pairs, and the 12 streets radiating from the roundabout. There’s also a museum inside, detailing the history of Arc de Triomphe. Of all the monuments of Paris, L’Etoile is one of the most revered by Parisians themselves, and an important stop on a sightseeing tour.

The history of Arc de Triomphe is varied, and marred by the German occupation of Paris, which celebrated by marching through the arch. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor the French military, the Arc de Triomphe is now a patriotic symbol of France’s history. It was finally completed in 1836, 15 years after Napoleon’s death. In 1920 an unknown solider was buried beneath the arc, to honor the soldiers who fought for France. The Arc de Triomphe has served as a symbol of victory for France, as well as for the Germans and the Allies, both of which have marched through the arch after victories as they enter Paris.

The Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris is located minutes away from the Arc de Triomphe and attempts to capture the prestige of ancient Paris. The Hilton Arc de Triomphe is perfect for executive travel, or luxurious vacationing with seven floors, 463 rooms (including 77 executive rooms), and 24 suites.. Modeled after luxurious ocean liners of the 30s, the hotel has balconies, steam baths, a full-service spa, a restaurant and bar, and executive meeting rooms. Definitely worth a look when staying in Paris, the Hilton Arc de Triomphe has a lot to offer guests.
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The Pantheon Paris: France

The Pantheon Paris, with its striking dome, was originally commissioned as a church in 1744 under Louis XV. However, it wasn’t finished until 1789, at which point, because of the Revolution, churches had fallen from popularity. Thus it became a temple to France, honoring historical figures. Within the Pantheon’s ornate walls you’ll find a crypt that houses the remains of more than 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. Considered the soul of the Latin quarter, with its magnificent dome and solemn interior, the Pantheon Paris is an inspiring edifice.

The Eiffel Tower, built in 1889 for the World Exhibition, is perhaps the most famous of all monuments of Paris. Built from 7,000 tons of iron and reaching 1,050 feet into the sky, the tower wasn’t love at first sight for Parisians, who hated the structure initially. The Cathedrale Notre-Dame was begun in 1163 and completed in 1345. An example of French gothic architecture, the south tower holds the bell tolled by the fictional Quasimodo in The Huntchback of Notre Dame, written by Frenchman Victor Hugo. Sacre-Coeur sits atop Montmartre hill, offering sweeping views of the city, and a beautiful domed building.

The Arc de Triomphe, located on the famed avenue Champs Elysees and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout, is a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon, and one of the best monuments of Paris. The gothic Saint Chapelle, built in the 13th century, has 15 stained glass windows depicting an entire biblical history. With famous buildings and museums all over the city, these are only a handful of the monuments of Paris.

Paris walking tours are a great way to see the city, and appreciate the sheer density of famous architecture, churches, galleries, and restaurants in Paris. No matter where you are in Paris, there’s something around the corner to look at. A walking tour is a great way to see Paris. The city is divided by the river Seine, with two islands in the middle. Paris is also divided into 20 districts, called arrondissements. Paris Walking Tours offers themed tours through the various districts.

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Notre Dame: France

Notre Dame Cathedral is an impressive marvel of medieval architecture. Started in 1163 and completed in 1330, Notre Dame Cathedral has a striking gothic exterior, two broad towers, and plenty of sweeping arches. The gothic exterior is full of intricate details and the ornate interior is light and airy.

To appreciate the features of Notre Dame Cathedral, approach from the park behind the cathedral, Square Jean XXIII, for an impressive view of the structure, and a look at the flying buttress that makes the immense roof possible. From the front, arches sweep above the three entryways, featuring stone carvings of royal persona. The Portal of the Virgin is on the left, the Portal of Last Judgment is in the center, and the Portal of St. Anne is on the right.

Inside Notre Dame Paris a 7800-pipe organ and a magnificent rose window from the 13th century, as well as carvings, statues, and saints. The spacious interior holds 6,000 worshippers. Climb the towers and see stone gargoyles, as well as a spectacular view of Paris. The south tower holds the great bell of Notre Dame, as tolled by Victor Hugo’s fictional hunchback. Nearby, Point Zero is the bronze star in the plaza from which all French metropolitan distances are measured, and for more history, visit the Musee de Notre Dame for paintings, engravings, and documents on the cathedral.

For tours in Paris, Paris Walking Tours offers guided and self-guided walking tours of Paris focusing on history, monuments, or museums. Classic Walks features an overview tour, tours in Paris of different districts, and themed tours, such as the Da Vinci Code Walk. French Adventures offers a broad range of tours for varying budgets. Many other outfits offer tours in Paris.

Other tourist attractions in Paris include the iconic Eiffel Tower tops out at over 1,000 feet, and contains 2 restaurants, a souvenir shop, a post office (for that one of a kind postmark), snack bar, and a viewing area, all within its iron structure. The Pantheon is a monument dedicated to historical personages of France, housing a crypt containing over 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. The Arc de Triomphe, located on the famed avenue Champs Elysees and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout, is a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon. The gothic Saint Chapelle is another tourist attraction in Paris. Built in the 13th century, the cathedral has 15 stained glass windows depicting an entire biblical history. Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise is a hodgepodge of tombstone and shrines. Visitors flock to lay kisses on Oscar Wilde’s tomb, or view rock star Jim Morrison’s grave.
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Porte Saint-Denis: France

Two triumphal arches, at the Porte Saint-Martin and Porte Saint-Denis, were commissioned by Louis XIV to commemorate his military victories. Ever since 1670, reinforcement of France’s northeastern borders had allowed the removal of fortifications surrounding Paris, and this circumference was transformed into verdant promenades. During the centuries that followed, they were to become the “grand boulevards”(1) of Paris.

Symbolically marking the entrances into 17th-century Paris at the sites of the old toll-gates, these two triumphal arches served only an ornamental function. Their sculptures and bas-reliefs celebrated the King as a head of war.
History of the Porte Saint-Denis

The Saint-Denis arch was erected (1671-74) by Nicolas François Blondel, and paid for by the City of Paris. Small openings were cut into the sides to facilitate circulation, contrary to the architect’s wishes.

A bas-relief on the southern façade represents the passage of the Rhine and the symbolic figures of the vanquished regions of the Rhine and Holland (beneath the features of a grieving woman). On the northern façade, the king is shown placing the town of Maastricht under his yoke.

It was through this gate, and along the rue St-Denis, that the kings of France would return to Paris from religious services at the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Napoleon’s troops also passed through the arch, entering the city in 1816 after a victorious campaign. On the occasion of her visit to the Universal Exposition in 1855, Queen Victoria passed under the arch; she was the last sovereign to have completed this ritual dating back nearly a thousand years.

On June 23, 1848, a bloody insurrection of disenchanted workers took place here, complete with the erection of barricades and capture of the national guard’s post at the boulevard Bonne Nouvelle. In the ensuing firefight, over 30 insurgents were killed or wounded. The whole confligration was documented on June 25 by Fredrick Engels (the co-founder of Marxism), who subsequently published many accounts of the June Revolution in Neue Rheinische Zeitung.

The arch of the Porte Saint-Denis served as the inspiration for the more famous Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile (completed in 1836), as well as for the Manhatten Bridge Arch in New York (designed by Carrere and Hastings, completed in 1909).

Historical factoid: Back in 1436, when Paris was still a fortified stronghold, the English - with the support of the Burgundians - had invaded and occupied an area of the city around the Porte Saint-Denis. However, their unwelcome presence was soon to be challenged: While King Charles VII was approaching Paris, its citizens began to revolt against their unwanted guests. Directed by Michel de Lailler and aided by the High Constables Richemont and Jean de Villiers d’Adam, a plan of attack was devised. Richemont, who was based in Saint Denis (outside the city limits), decided to enter Paris through the Porte Saint-Martin, while the English were expecting him at the Porte Saint-Denis. The English were soundly defeated, allowing King Charles VII to triumphantly enter the city on November 12, 1437.

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Paris: France

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (architects Percier and Fontaine) was built between 1806 and 1808 by Napoleon I following the model of the Arch of Constantine in Rome. The two arches conceived by Napoleon, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile, were erected to commemorate his victories, and the grand armies he had commanded. The bronze horses which originally perched on top of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel were taken from Saint-Marc of Venice. These were later returned after WWII.

The monument is richly decorated in rose marble on the columns and the front paneling. It is part of the so-called Grand Axis of Paris - or Voie Triomphale - which consists of the Grande Arche de la Defense to the west, the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile at place du General Charles de Gaulle, the boulevard Champs-Elysees, the Obelisque de Luxor at the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and the Palais du Louvre (Louvre Museum) culminating at the eastern end.
Physical Description

The Arc du Carrousel is composed of three arches: a big one and two little ones. While the principal structure is 63 feet high, 75 feet wide, and 24 feet deep, the ceiling of the big arch is 21 feet high and 9 feet wide, and the two small arches are each 14 feet, 16 inches high and 9 feet wide. The arc is surmounted by a group of men on horses underneath which one finds the names of the battles and treaties of Napoleon.

Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile: France

The arch was commissioned by Napoleon as a tribute to the French army. The original architect was Chalgrin; after his death, the work was continued by Joust (or Goust) from 1811-14 until it stopped after the defeat of Napoleon. In 1833 work was begun again. The name of Blouet, who had the honor of completing the monument, is engraved on it.

The inscription (translated) reads: “This monument which was begun in 1806 to honour the great army, was left unfinished for many years, was continued in 1823 with a new purpose, and was completed in 1836 in the reign of King Louis-Philippe I who dedicated it to the glory of France’s armed forces. G. A. Blouet, architect” (Dillange 7). Completed under the new king Louis-Philippe and his minister of the interior, Adolphe Thiers, the arch was a way of illustrating the new government’s efforts at national unity and reconciliation.

S ince 1920, the tomb of France’s Unknown Soldier has been sheltered underneath the arch. Its eternal flame commemorates the dead of the two world wars, and is rekindled every evening at 6:30. Here, on every Armistice Day (November 11), the President of the Republic lays a ceremonial wreath. On July 14, the French National Day (also known as Bastille Day), a military parade starts at the arch and proceeds down the Champs Elysees. For important occasions of state, and on national holidays, a huge French tricolor is unfurled and hung from the vaulted ceiling inside of the Arch. The last leg of the Tour de France bicycle race also culminates here on the third or fourth Sunday in July.

Physical Description

At the bases of the Arc’s pillars are four huge relief sculptures, commemorating The Triumph of 1810 (by Cortot); Resistance, and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known as La Marseillaise (by François Rude). On the day the Battle of Verdun started (1916), the sword carried by the figure representing the Republic broke off from La Marseillaise. The relief was immediately hidden to conceal the accident, so that it would not be interpreted as a bad omen.

E ngraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, can be found on the inside walls. (Generals whose names are underlined died in action.) (more…)