The monument at the top of the Champs-Élysées. Climb to the roof terrace for a view down 12 avenues and across to the Eiffel Tower.
Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
After his victory at Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon ordered a triumphal arch to honour the French armies. It took 30 years to finish and was completed in 1836, long after his fall. In 1840 his funeral procession passed beneath it on the way to Les Invalides.
The arch is 50 metres tall and carved with the names of battles and generals. Since 1921 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies under the arch, and a flame of remembrance is relit every evening at 6:30 pm.
Spring to autumn for clear views. On 14 July and 11 November the arch is at the centre of national ceremonies.
Climb around sunset to watch the city light up and the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
Weekday mornings are calm. Evening slots in summer sell out first.
Well-known hotels within easy reach. Check prices and availability for your dates.
Yes, with a paid ticket. A spiral staircase of 284 steps leads to a museum level and the rooftop terrace.
Take the underground pedestrian tunnel from the Champs-Élysées or Avenue de la Grande-Armée. The roundabout has 12 lanes of traffic and no crossings.
Every evening at 6:30 pm, veterans relight the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
