The Arc de Triomphe de L'Etoile is a magnificent monument located in Place de L'Etoile (metro Charles de Gaulle Etoile, line 1), at the top of the Champs Elysées. It was commissioned in 1806, finally completed in 1836 (construction was halted due to the Bourbon Restoration).
Arc de Triomphe
Access to the ground level is free, accessible via an underpass (you would have to be suicidal to try and cross the roundabout). At ground level you can see the tomb of the unknown soldier (visit after 18:30 if you want to see the flame of the unknown soldier lit).
Though you do get to see a lot from ground level, it is also worth a visit to the top (around 9 euros, though with 284 steps to reach the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you need to be in good shape to make it. There is a lift to the middle section, though this still leaves 46 steps to climb, so the top of the Arc de Triomphe is not very accessible to people in wheel chairs .
Once at the top you are presented with an amazing view of Paris. The Eiffel Tower still looks huge and the Sacré Coeur looks beautiful atop Montmartre in the distance. You also get a great view of La Defense in the distance, the main business district of Paris (though it is actually situated just outside of Paris).
From Place e L'Etoile there are 12 avenues radiating outwards, including Avenue des Champs Elyseés.
From Place e L'Etoile there are 12 avenues radiating outwards, including Avenue des Champs Elyseés.
We risked our lives to photograph in detail one side of the Arc de Triomphe (facing La Defense). This is such a busy roundabout, the cars speed past with little regard to pedestrians or Paris by Photo photographers! See below for a .6 Gigapixel Photo of the Arc de Triomphe. You can really zoom all the way in to see the wonderful detail. Select fullscreen to really enjoy the Arc de Triomphe .6 Gigapixel photo. You can zoom and pan to any part of the Arc de Triomphe .6 Gigapixel photo. You can left-click and drag or use the buttons to navigate. Enjoy and check out our other Gigapixel photos of famous Paris landmarks and buildings around our website like our Gigapixel photo of the Eiffel Tower.
Inside the Arc de Triomphe is also pretty cool. We really liked the screen showing the tourists enjoying the Arc de Triomphe at ground level. If you make time to visit the Arc de Triomphe, we are sure you will not regret it. Nowhere else in Paris will you find such an elegant symbol of past French military glory.
Our sister site has lots of Gigapixel photos of Paris Monuments and famous Paris places. You can even take your own photos and send as free e-cards to your friends and family.
Paris Guide Books
Our sister site has lots of Gigapixel photos of Paris Monuments and famous Paris places. You can even take your own photos and send as free e-cards to your friends and family.