Tuesday, April 26, 2005
April in Paris: L'Arc de Triomphe
• Another famous Parisian landmark that duals as a giant roundabout.
• 12 grand avenues meet here at the star-shaped Place de l'Etoile, including les Champs-Elysées.
• Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after victory at Austerlitz, but took 30 years to build.
• Used to be the largest triumphal arch in the world (50m tall) until North Korea trumped it.
• In 1919 French aviator Charles Godefroy flew his biplane straight through the central arch.
• A flame is kept constantly lit at the tomb of the unknown soldier, interred beneath the arch in 1920.
• A huge tricolor flaps from the underside of the arch on special occasions, like the day of my visit.
• For €7 you can climb the 284 steps to the top for spectacular views over Paris...
• ...only I didn't bother on Saturday afternoon because the queue was too long. Maybe next time.
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