The Arc de Triomphe in Paris – did you know there are four of them?

When we say “Arc de Triomphe,” we all think of the Arc de Triomphe that began construction Napoleon I In the area of ​​Place de l'Étoile, at the end of theChamps Elysees. However, this monument is the “youngest” of the triumphal arches that exist in Paris and it is by no means the only one. Today I want to take you on a journey that is all about triumphal arches. We will start with two arches that are much less familiar to the Israeli tourist, which were created back in the 17th century. From there we will continue to the first triumphal arch built by Napoleon and end at the famous triumphal arch at the end of the Champs Elysées.

So let's wear comfortable shoes, because our journey will take us fromThe 10rd District, Through The 1rd District To the end of the8th DistrictIf you have come to this article in search of practical information (opening hours, ticket prices, etc.) regarding Arc de Triomphe The famous, you are welcome to skip the rest of the information using the table of contents of this article and get straight to the point you are looking for.

Porte Saint Denis

In truth, the tradition of triumphal arches is a very ancient one, originating not in France but in ancient Rome (the most famous gate from that period is of course the Arch of Titus). Even kings France Triumphal arches were commonly erected in Paris and other cities, but until the 17th century, most of these gates were temporary and were dismantled some time after the event for which they were erected. Louis XIV He decided to change all this and build a permanent triumphal arch to adorn the new boulevards of Paris, which he built on the ruins of the walls of Charles V (boulevard comes from the Dutch word “bulwark” which means construction site. The reason for this is that it was the Dutch workers who actually demolished the walls and built the first boulevards of Paris).

The location of the gate was chosen at the end of Rue Saint-Denis, and for good reason. From the Middle Ages onwards, this street was one of the most important in the city because the King of France would enter the capital through the Saint-Denis Gate in the wall. Also, when the king died, his body would pass through this very street on its way to the Abbey of Saint-Denis, where it would join the previous kings who were buried there. And if you thought this custom ended with the last King of France, you were wrong. Queen Victoria passed under this gate during her visit to Paris in the 50s.

So why did he decide to establish Louis XIV A triumphal arch? He did this following a series of victories over the Dutch, culminating in the conquest of the city of Maastricht and the principalities of the Rhine. A magnificent victory required a magnificent arch, so the King of France decided not to spare any resources. The architect chosen was François Blondel (1618-1686) and he was asked to build a large arch in the style of the Arch of Titus. If you look at the figures appearing on the arch, you will discover a statue of a woman sitting on a dying lion. This is an allegory of the defeated Netherlands. To emphasize the defeat, the statue next to the lion has a broken sword and scattered arrows. Also, if you look up, you will discover an inscription in Latin describing all the conquests of the King of France, which were made in a record time of 60 days (yes, there were once days when the French won wars).

Napoleon I was quite jealous of this triumphal arch, because of its size and because of the many victories of Louis XIV. Therefore, when the arch needed to be renovated in 1, he made sure to engrave the words Ludovico Magno (Louis the Great) in bronze, so that people would not notice who built this arch. He may have succeeded, because the revolutionaries of 14 and 1807 and the millions of people who pass by, do not really notice this arch and who built it…

Porte Saint Martin

Two years passed and Louis XIV continued to win (don’t worry, it will pass him by in a few more years). To celebrate his new victories on the Rhine, he ordered the construction of a new triumphal arch, which would replace the Saint-Martin arch that was fixed to the wall, which the late Charles V had built. For the construction of the gate, the architect Pierre Bullet (14-5) was summoned and if you look at the gate you will discover that it has 1639 different allegories on it:

• In the northern part you will find a woman sitting next to a lion (an allegory for the conquest of the city of Limburg) and also Louis XIV fighting against an eagle (a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire and its German principalities).
• In the southern part you will find Louis XIV again but this time as Hercules (naked), fighting the coalition against him. You will also see Louis XIV (again), this time standing by an olive tree and receiving keys from a woman representing the city of Besançon which he conquered.

I don't know about you, but all the appearances of Louis XIV in different places on the same cover made me think this was an old version of Doctor Who...

The story of this gate is also unknown to most tourists, and they too pass by it without noticing its existence. Will this be the fate of the next Arc de Triomphe?

The triumphal arch of the carousel

We physically move from the 10th arrondissement, where the two previous triumphal arches were, straight to the 1st arrondissement. However, our journey is not only a journey in space but also a journey in time, as we also move more than 130 years forward to early 19th century France.

As we saw earlier, Napoleon was jealous of Louis XIV and decided, following his victories, to build an arch of triumph for himself. The location chosen was a small neighborhood between The Louvre and the Tuileries Palace. The neighborhood was called “Carousel”, after the carousel game played by Louis XIV, which was very different from the carousel we know (if you want to read more about this game, you are welcome to read the article How the carousel turns). Because Napoleon wanted nothing to hide the Arc de Triomphe, he demolished all the houses around it and created the plaza we all know today.

The gate was started in 1806, inspired by an ancient Roman gate of Septimius Severus, and Napoleon decided to put the horses he stole from Venice on it (these horses were looted by the Venetians when they invaded Byzantium, but that’s another story). When the Arc de Triomphe was built, someone decided to “go big” and put a statue of Napoleon on the horse-drawn carriage, but you won’t see this statue today. Where is Napoleon today, you ask? He was replaced by the Bourbons with a statue of the Goddess of Peace, and the original horses were also returned to Venice, and in their place you see a replica.

What else can you see at this gate, which rises to a height of nearly 20 meters? You will find the symbol of Italy there, held up by allegorical statues of Wisdom and Victory. Also, just like at the Saint-Martin Gate, here too you will find the patron of the gate, this time it is Napoleon, everywhere. One moment he is entering Munich and the next he is signing the Peace of Pressburg. One moment he is winning the Battle of Austerlitz and the next he is conquering Ulm. Indeed, there is no doubt that Napoleon was a man who knew what multitasking was.

But was one triumphal arch enough for Napoleon? Of course not, and while building the Arc de Triomphe of the Carrousel, he began planning and building the most famous triumphal arch in Paris.

The Arc de Triomphe of Place de l'Etoile

This is the Arc de Triomphe in the news, the one that probably got you started reading this article. This hill at the top of the Champs-Elysées was in the sights of many French rulers before Napoleon built an Arc de Triomphe there. Take Louis XV, for example. If it were up to him, a giant elephant would be standing on top of the hill today. In fact, a plaster model of the elephant statue was actually created, but at the last minute it was moved to the square. Bastille, where it remained until it was completely destroyed (you are invited to read about it in the article Victor Hugo's Paris itinerary).

Napoleon decided that this hill had stood deserted for too long, and while building the Arc de Triomphe of the Carrousel, he ordered Chalgrin (Jean Chalgrin 1739-1811) to build an arch there in honor of his army. However, Chalgrin died in 1811 and a few years later Napoleon I lost his throne. As a result, work on the Arc de Triomphe almost completely stopped and he stood idle for about 1 years. The one who decided to finish the Arc de Triomphe was the last king of France, Louis Philippe (20-1830), and in 1848 the famous arch was inaugurated, after the greatest sculptors of France at the time worked on it, including Rude, Pradier and Cortot.

The Arc de Triomphe of Place de l'Etoile It is undoubtedly the most impressive triumphal arch in Paris, and not only because of its height (50 meters). You can find allegorical statues on it, the most famous of which is the statue of Marseillaise leading the soldiers into battle, sculpted by Rude. If you look up, you will discover the names of Napoleon's greatest victories, and if you go up the stairs or elevator, you will reach the museum that opened in 2007 and describes the history of the Arc de Triomphe. If you would like to learn more about each of the many statues on the Arc de Triomphe, you are welcome to watch this video.

Arc de Triomphe in Paris – Tickets and Opening Hours

Tickets

If you decide to climb the Arc de Triomphe to enjoy the amazing view below (and the lovely museum, of course), then it is recommended to buy tickets in advance to save standing in line. Here's a quick link for you. To purchase tickets to the spectacular observation point:

Opening hours and directions

The Arc de Triomphe is open to the public every day from 10:00 AM to 22:00 PM. It can be reached by metro lines 1, 2, and 6. It can also be reached by RER A (very convenient if you are near the LES HALLES station).

Hotels in the Arc de Triomphe area

The Arc de Triomphe is not located right in the center of Paris, but the metro lines that pass through it make it very central. Therefore, if you want to live near it, you can choose between the 8th, 16th or 17th arrondissements, which border it. Of course, if you want to live near one of the other Arc de Triomphes I mentioned, you can look for accommodation in:

• The 1st district, located near the Arc de Triomphe of the Carousel.
• The 3rd arrondissement, which is close to Port Saint-Martin (just be careful not to live on or near Blondel Street because there are quite a few street prostitutes there).
• The 10th arrondissement, where Porte Saint-Denis and Porte Saint-Martin are located, is also the cheapest of all the districts mentioned.

If you decide to live in one of these neighborhoods, all that's left for you is to choose an excellent hotel or a luxurious vacation apartment, which you can find here:

• Recommended hotels in Paris
• Apartments for rent in Paris 

Bonus: No goal, no victory, and not in Paris, but still…

And if you've come this far and are looking for one more gate that is somehow connected to Paris, let me tell you about a gate in the La Défense district, called La grande arche (the great arch) in French.

This arch can also be seen if you stand on the Carrousel Square (and certainly if you stand on the Arc de Triomphe of the Hétoile) and is the modern addition to the tradition of grandiose buildings in Paris and its surroundings. This arch, 100 meters high, was designed by the Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen and built during the 80s. Unlike the Arc de Triomphes, which had no practical use, this is a huge office building that houses government offices, large companies, and more. If you stand on the arch, you are guaranteed an amazing view of Paris that will include the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, the Conrad, and the Louvre.

If you would like to read more about this gate and the La Défense district, let me recommend the wonderful article by Yoel Tamanlis La Défense District – Manhattan near Paris.