The Arc de Triomphe, also known as the Triumphal Arch is one of the most famous buildings in Paris. It is located in the 8th arrondissement on the Place Charles de Gaulle, or known as the Place de l’Étoile. This is one of the busiest traffic squares in Paris at the end of the Champs-Élysées. Twelve avenues converge in this location. Enjoy your stay in our luxury hotel in Paris 8th district.
The construction of the Arc de Triomphe started in 1806 in honor of the victory of Napoleon at Austerlitz. The construction wasn’t finished until 1836 under King Louis Philip. After the First World War an unknown solder was buried underneath the Arc de Triomphe. After this it has been also a memorial monument for the First World War. The Arc de Triomphe is more or less 50 meter high and the base is 45 meter by 22 meter. It is the third largest triumphal arch in the world. The design is from Jean François Chalgrin (1739-1811).
The Arc de Triomphe was proposed to Empress Marie Louise in 1810 but the walls were only slightly higher than the ground. It took two years to lay the foundations of the monument. Chalgrin had to show how the building would look like when it would be finished and for this purpose they made a ‘finished’ Arc de Triomphe from carpentry and painted canvas. In 1811 they stopped working on the construction because of the dead of the architect and the military setbacks that happened to Napoleon. The work was resumed in 1832. They finished the monument in 1836. In 1840 the remains of Napoleon were driven under the Arc de Triomphe in an imposing ceremony.
The Arc de Triomphe was designed after the example of the ancient Roman triumphal arches. The monument features naked French beating bearded barbarians. The statues on the arch were made by famous sculptors: Jean-Pierre Cortot, François Rude, Antoine Étex, Pradier and Lemaire. The Arc contains four statues and scenes from French history, the departure of the volunteers in 1792 and the Triumph of 1810. There are names of 558 important generals inscribed on the inside of the arch. Above the arch you find thirty shields depicting Napoleon his most important victories. There is an eternal flame that burns commemorate all the unknown soldiers who died in the Two World Wars. Enjoy you stay in our boutique hotel on Haussmann Boulevard.