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Facts about Arc de Triomphe

The construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris was ordered in 1806 by Napoleon, the French Emperor.

Napoleon wanted to honor the Grande Armee, the name of the French army at that time.

The Grande Armee had conquered most of Europe and was then considered invicible. After his Austerlitz victory in 1805, Napoleon said to his soldiers : "You will return home through archs of triumph".

The construction of Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836, long after Napoleon's death in 1821.

Arc de Triomphe in Paris
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris
Napoléon, the French Emperor
Napoleon, the French Emperor
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The construction had been stopped between 1814 (abdication of Napoleon) and 1826.

The Arc de Triomphe costed 9.3 millions French francs, a gigantic amount of money at that time.

The names of 128 battles of the first French Republic and Napoleon's Empire are written on the white walls under the vault together with the names of the generals who took part in them.

The Arc de Triomphe in 19th century
The Arc de Triomphe in 19th century

Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe
Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe in Paris

On November 11th 1920, the body of an unknown soldier was buried under the Arc de Triomphe. He represents the 1 500 000 French soldiers who died during World War One between 1914 and 1918.

Since 1923, the Flame of Remembrance on the tomb of the unknown soldier is symbolically rekindled everyday at 6pm by war veterans and soldiers.

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© 01/06/97 - 08/11/09 - Paris Digest ® , the Paris guide for tourism and travel

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