Arc de Triomphe, Arch of Triumph
After leaving the Eiffel tower and the Champs de Mars we crossed the River Seine, and headed north on Avenue D'lena. It was a bit of a hike, but we were excited and energetic, and before we knew it, there stood the incredible Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe stands in the middle of the place Charles-de-Gaulle.
The arch was started by Napoleon as a homage to the armies of France and himself. The Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836 by Louis Philippe and commemorates the victories of the Napoleonic Empire. Names of war generals and reliefs of battles are engraved around the exterior of the arch. In 1920, an unknown soldier was buried beneath the arch and marked by a flame that is never allowed to go out. There are about 280 steps inside the arc that lead to the top of the structure.
The Arc de Triomphe is in the center of a circular, roundabout intersection. Cars are whirling around the attraction. The size of the Arc de Triomphe is deceiving, you can only get an idea of the immense volume by looking at the tiny dots atop the structure - the tourists who've climbed all the steps.
The Champs Elysees is the main boulevard that features the top shopping spots in Paris. The street runs east to west, ending at the Arc de Triomphe on the west end. After our visit to the Arc de Triomphe, we proceeded to stroll down this very famous street.
