The creator of the triumphal arch in Paris. triumphal arch in paris
A monument erected to the glory of the victories of the Great French Army in the 8th arrondissement of Paris on the Place Charles de Gaulle (Stars). It is located at the top of the Champs Elysees, on the hill of Chaillot.
After the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon ordered the construction of a triumphal arch in honor of the military victories won by France during the Revolution and during the First Empire. The Emperor laid the foundation stone on his birthday, August 15, 1806. It took two years to build the foundation.
Around the arch was created Star Square, and she was then outside the city, closely adjoining the city outpost of Chaillot.
The architect was the architect J.-F. Schalgren (1730–1811), inspired by examples of similar monuments in Ancient Rome. Triumphal arches in Rome were erected in memory significant event, in honor of famous person, deities. But the size of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is much larger than the samples of the ancient world. Its height is 50 m, width is 45 m, the arch has one span, the dimensions of which are 14.2–29 m.
It took 30 years to complete the construction of the monument. In its finished form, neither Napoleon nor Chalgrin himself saw it, in which the height of the arch reached only 5 m.
The collapse of Napoleon in 1815 suspended work on the construction of the Arc de Triomphe. Again, the construction of the arch began under Louis Philippe (1773-1850) and completed in 1836. However, the original idea (to dedicate the arch only to the victories of Napoleon) was abandoned, deciding that it was necessary to glorify the army not only of the Empire, but also of the Republic.
In 1840, under pressure from the Bonapartists, Louis-Philippe transported Napoleon's remains from Saint Helena to France. The funeral procession solemnly passed under the arches of the Arc de Triomphe. Currently, the body of Napoleon Bonaparte rests in the Les Invalides in Paris.
The construction was completed under the direction of the architect Abel Blue. The arch is richly decorated with sculptural high reliefs. The most interesting is the right high relief on the east side (facing the Champs-Elysées) - “Performance of volunteers on a campaign. 1792" by François Rude.
On the walls of the arch are engraved the names of 128 battles in the history of France won by the republican and imperial armies, as well as the names of 558 French military leaders. The arch is surrounded by 100 granite pedestals (in honor of the "hundred days" of Napoleon's reign), interconnected by cast-iron chains.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier appeared in the main span of the arch in 1921. A soldier who died in the First World War is buried here. world war. He was chosen at Verdun from thousands of others.
The monument became the venue for the most solemn ceremonies. The coffin with the body of Emperor Napoleon from the island of St. Helena, with a large gathering of people on December 15, 1840, was carried under the arches of the Arc de Triomphe to the place of eternal rest in the cathedral of Les Invalides. Here, for one night on May 30, 1885, the coffin with the body of Victor Hugo was put up. Thiers, Gambetta, Carnot, MacMahon, Generals Foch and Joffre, General Philippe Leclerc, Marshal Lattre de Tassigny were honored with a solemn funeral ceremony with a stop under the vaults of the arch after their death. At the arch, jubilant Parisians in August 1944 welcomed General de Gaulle, who had returned from London.
Every year on July 14, a military parade is held here with the laying of wreaths at the Eternal Flame. The President of France and veterans take part in the parade, which, unfortunately, is becoming less and less every year.
In 1854, the round Square of the Star received a modern "star-shaped" look, thanks to 12 streets that radiated from it. In 1969 the square was renamed and now bears the name of Charles de Gaulle.
Standing on the natural elevation of the Place des Stars, the majestic and powerful Arc de Triomphe reigns over Paris.
It is considered a symbol of the city, along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. The monument is a permanent place of pilgrimage for a huge number of tourists.
Inside the monument there is a museum of the same name, and at the top there is an observation deck with a stunning view of Paris.
A visit to the Arc de Triomphe includes climbing 284 steps to the observation deck and visiting the museum halls. The halls of the museum exhibit architectural and sculptural samples, as well as exhibits telling about the history of the creation of the arch. Using a special mechanism, here you can see in more detail the sculptural compositions located above the arch supports.
The triumphal arch is open daily April-September from 10.00 to 23.00; October-March from 10.00 to 22.30. The exceptions are January 1, May 1, the morning of May 8, the morning of July 14, the morning of November 11, December 25.
Tariff: adults - 9 €, children under 18 accompanied by adults - free of charge.
Pantheon. The famous buildings of Paris also include the Arc de Triomphe, located on Charles de Gaulle Square. Monumental and majestic, it was erected by order of Napoleon in honor of the victories of his great army.
History of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
Napoleon signed the decree on the construction of the Arc de Triomphe on February 18, 1806. The arch should become a new symbol of the invincibility of the French army.
After the death of Schalgren, the work was continued by the architects L. Gu, J. N. Yuyo and G. A. Blue, each of whom tried to convey some of his ideas in the construction. The models for the Arc de Triomphe, despite the fact that it was built under the guidance of different people, still remained ancient Roman structures, only the French arch, according to the plans, was to become much more majestic.
On August 15, 1807, the foundation stone was laid. Construction began, which, however, was interrupted more than once, mainly for political reasons.
Napoleon abdicated in 1814. But the arch was not ready yet. Its supports rose only to half the planned height. The Bourbon Empire was restored, there was no need to exalt Napoleon, so construction stopped.
It's been 8 years. Again there was a plan to continue the construction of the arch, but now it had a different purpose. The triumphal arch was supposed to reflect the solemnity of France's victory over. In 1830, they decided to return to the idea that the arch should still exalt the achievements of the French army during the Republic and under Napoleon. This decision turned out to be final. After 6 years, on July 29, 1836, the grand opening took place.
On December 15, 1840, a funeral cortege with the ashes of Napoleon brought from the island of St. Helena. Later, Thiers, Gambetta, Victor Hugo, Lazar Carnot, MacMahon, Generals Foch and Joffre, General Leclerc, Marshal Lattre de Tassigny were awarded a solemn funeral ceremony with a stop under the arches of the Arc de Triomphe after their death.
Features of the structure of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
The Arc de Triomphe is located at the end of the Champs Elysees on a hill, in the center of a large square, named after the famous commander Charles de Gaulle. 12 streets branch off from this square.
The facades of the Arc de Triomphe face the Champs Elysees, descending to the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Garden and to. On the other side of the arch is the Avenue de la Grande Armée, the perspective of which ends with skyscrapers and the Grand Arch of the Défense quarter.
The arch has a classic U-shape. The impressive size is impressive. The arch is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide.
The arch has one central opening. There are two more small openings on the north and south sides.
The Arc de Triomphe is crowned with a 5-meter frieze, the bas-reliefs of which tell about the great deeds of the French army. At the very top of the arch is an attic - a kind of built-on wall. It is engraved with a list of 30 major battles of the Napoleonic army.
On each side of the arch there are relief images of the battles of Austerlitz and Aboukir.
At the top there is an observation deck, very popular with tourists. Inside the arch itself is a small museum of the history of the arch itself.
In 1920, at the foot of the arch, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier appeared, in honor of those who died in the war of 1914-1918, and the Eternal Flame was lit over the grave. The inscription on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier reads: "Here rests a soldier who gave his life for the Motherland, 1914-1919."
In 1986, the Arc de Triomphe turned 150 years old. Over a century and a half, it collapsed quite badly: the bas-reliefs cracked, the joints between the stones weakened. To avoid accidents in case of a possible fall of stones, protective nets were stretched here. The examination carried out showed that the reason for the "disease" of the arch is pollution and the action of rains, which caused uneven settlement of the monument. To save this symbol of national greatness, a number of measures were proposed: strengthening the upper part of the monument and facades, restoring sculptures, strengthening the foundation with concrete injection, filling the space between the stones, etc. The cost of all these operations amounted to 35 million francs. Part of this amount is allocated by the Ministry of Culture, part comes in the form of donations from individuals and organizations. The complete restoration of the Arc de Triomphe was completed by 1990.
The Arc de Triomphe is known, perhaps, all over the world. This is one of the national symbols of France. Today, official events are held near the Arc de Triomphe: holidays, parades, processions.
Among the most beautiful cities of the Old World, Paris rightfully occupies one of the leading places. Its world-famous sights are admired: the Eiffel Tower, and, of course, Triumphal Arch, which located on the Place General Charles de Gaulle, formerly known as Star Square. From the center of the square, on which stands a monument erected in honor of those soldiers who died for France, the "rays" of twelve streets diverge.
Arc de Triomphe in Paris - description.
The triumphal arch was built in the antique style and has a U-shape. The famous Roman arch of Titus served as the prototype of the monument. Height of the Arc de Triomphe reaches 49.5 m, the width is almost 45 m, and the height of the vault of the central span is more than 29 m. The four pylons supporting the vault of the arch are decorated with sculptural bas-reliefs made by different sculptors. The Marseillaise was created by François Rudeau, Cortot worked on the Triumph of Napoleon of 1810, and The Resistance and The World belong to the chisel of Etex. From the north and south, the passages between the pylons are decorated in the form of small arched vaults.
The upper bas-reliefs of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris tell of 128 victories won by the French army. The names of 558 French officers who fanned themselves with military glory are carved on the inner walls. The monument is surrounded by hundreds of granite pedestals connected by iron chains. They are a symbol of the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. 46 steps lead to the roof of the arch, where the observation deck is located. From the height of the monument, you can admire the stunning view of Paris that opens up and freeze in delight when you see numerous monuments, buildings and avenues located on the same line, which are not in vain called the “Triumphal Route”.
Arc de Triomphe inside.
Inside the monument there is a small museum with an exhibition where you can learn about the history of the creation of the Arc de Triomphe. In the same place, under the dome of the arch, there is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the soldiers who died in the First World War of 1914-1918. Above her, as a reminder of this, an eternal flame burns.
History of the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
After the victorious battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon Bonaparte decided to perpetuate the memory of this event. And on February 18, 1806, he ordered the construction of a structure that would correspond in importance to the victory he won. The original idea of the monument belonged to J.F. Chalgren, after whose death the work was continued by the architects J.N. Yuyo, G. A. Blues, and L. Gu. Each of them made their own additions to the project, making the building even more majestic than the Roman model.
At the end of the summer of 1807, the foundation stone was laid, and construction lasted about two years. For various reasons, the erection of the monument was postponed several times. Napoleon, who conceived this building, never saw it completed. Entering Paris in 1810, he passed under the wooden arches of the model, and in 1814 (the year of his abdication), the Arc de Triomphe was only half erected.
With the coming to power of the Bourbon dynasty, construction was frozen and continued only in 1830. Six years later, on July 29, 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was opened. In 1840, under the arches of the monument, it was destined to proceed only to the funeral cortege, which delivered the remains of the emperor for burial in the Palace of Invalides.
The height and width of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is so huge that in 1919 the pilot Charles Godfrey allowed an airplane to fly through the arch, in honor of the end of the First World War. Over the past almost 180 years, the monument has been badly damaged. Precipitation, urban smog and vibration of the soil caused by the movement of vehicles led to cracking of the bas-reliefs and weakening the strength of the masonry. Therefore, the Arc de Triomphe needs restoration work, the last of which took place in 2003 and 2008.
Arc de Triomphe in Paris (France) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
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The majestic Arc de Triomphe is a famous architectural monument and simply a symbol of Paris, located on Charles de Gaulle Square.
The construction of the arch was started by order of Emperor Napoleon after the battle of Austerlitz in 1806. The construction of one foundation took about two years, the arch acquired its final form only in 1836, when Bonaparte was already resting on St. Helena in the grave. A century later, in 1921, the remains of the Unknown Soldier who died in the First World War were buried under the vaults of the arch.
An interesting fact: when Paris was waiting for the visit of Empress Marie-Louise in 1810, the arch was not yet ready. Then, on a stone foundation, a "decoration" of the future arch was created from boards and linen.
The two main sculptural groups facing the center are Ryud's famous Marseillaise ("Departure of the Volunteers of 1792") and Cortot's "Triumph of 1810" with Napoleon in the center. On the sides of the arch are bas-reliefs of the triumphant victories of the imperial army. You can also find our compatriots from the side of Wagram Street (victory at Austerlitz).
Triumphal Arch
Today, the tradition of lighting the Memorial Flame is directly connected with the majestic arch. The arch is decorated with stunning bas-reliefs by F.Ryud. Inside the monument there is a museum of the same name, in addition, anyone can go up to the observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of Paris.
Basic moments
The dimensions of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris are impressive and emphasize its grandeur. The architectural structure rises to 49.5 m, has a width of 44.8 m and a vault height of over 29 meters. Although more than 180 years have passed since its construction, the arch in the French capital remains the largest of all the triumphal arches in the world.
The famous monument stands in the historical center of the city, on the square named after Charles de Gaulle. From this place, 12 avenues are laid in different directions, the most famous of them is called the Champs Elysees. The Arc de Triomphe is visible from all sides, and many French and foreign tourists come to it all year round. The area around the monument can be considered a real place of pilgrimage, as the routes of almost all excursions in Paris are laid past it.
Through the Arc de Triomphe leads the "Triumphal Way", which is also called the "Royal Perspective". This is a series of buildings and historical monuments, stretched along one axis. It starts from the Louvre, continues through the Tuileries Gardens to Place de la Concorde, and then along the Champs Elysees leads to the arch. The Triumphant Way does not end here. It continues even further from the city center - across the boulevard great army to the Grand Arch of Defense. The Arc de Triomphe in Paris lies in the middle of the "Royal Perspective", and therefore it is perfectly visible from the buildings of the historic city center and the ultra-modern high-rise buildings of La Defense.
Construction of the Arc de Triomphe
In 1805, the army, led by Napoleon, won the "battle of the three emperors" at Austerlitz. The emperor really wanted to perpetuate the triumph of his soldiers, and ordered the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in the center of Paris.
Architects have prepared several designs for the monument. According to one of them, they planned to make a monument in the form of a huge elephant, in which a museum would be arranged, telling about the victories of the French troops. However, the emperor's attention was attracted by the project of Jean-Francois Chalgrin, the court architect of Napoleon I, who chose the famous single-span arch of Titus in Rome as the prototype of the Parisian monument.
The ancient monument appeared during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, in 81 AD. The Arch of Titus stood on the ancient Sacred Way, southeast of the Roman Forum. The laconic, beautiful monument served as a prototype for many triumphal arches built in modern times.
As in the Roman arch, the monument in the capital of France was planned to be made with one expressive span and powerful supports. At the behest of Napoleon, Chalgrin designed a French arch three times the size of the ancient arch of Titus. The following year, work began on the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. And five years later, the elderly author of the monument died. This happened at a time when the arch was not completed by only 5 meters in height.
The construction of the Arc de Triomphe dragged on for a long three decades due to a series of military defeats of France. In 1806-1807, a foundation was laid under the massive monument. In 1810, the bride of the emperor, Marie Louise of Austria, arrived in the capital of France. In honor of her visit, the wooden scaffolding of the monument under construction was decorated with a harsh canvas, which depicted a finished arch. So Napoleon was able to see his dream in the form of a large life-size model. The architect Abel Blue had the opportunity to complete the construction work. In 1836, when the Arc de Triomphe was finally built, the emperor who conceived it was no longer alive.
Historical events near the arch
In 1840, the ruler of France, Louis-Philippe I, in order to please the Bonapartists, transported the ashes of Emperor Napoleon to his homeland from the place where he spent last years life. The remains were taken from the remote island of St. Helena, placed on a pompously decorated funeral cortege and carried with honors under the arches of the majestic Arc de Triomphe. Today, the ashes of Napoleon are in the building of the Les Invalides (Rue de Babylone, 70).
Since then, solemn funerals through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris have become a state tradition. Funeral corteges passed under the famous monument famous writer Victor Hugo, politicians Louis Adolphe Thiers, Lazare-Hippolyte Carnot, Patrice de MacMahon and Léon Michel Gambetta, army generals Ferdinand Foch, Joseph Joffre and Philippe Leclerc, and Marshal Jean de Latre de Tassigny.
In 1921, the remains of the Unknown Soldier, who gave his life during the recent war, were moved under the Parisian monument. And two years later, the Eternal Flame was installed here as a symbol of memory of all the inhabitants of France who did not return from the fields of the First World War.
Sculptural decoration
The solemnity of the Arc de Triomphe is determined not only by its large size, but also by carefully executed decor - ornaments, bas-reliefs and sculptures. Two sculptural compositions face the city center (Champs Elysées). On the right is a dynamic work by the French master Francois Rude. It is dedicated to the performance of volunteers against the army of Prussia, which entered Lorraine in 1792, and is called "La Marseillaise". On the left side, the arch is decorated with a sculptural group made by Jean-Pierre Cortot. It is called the "Triumph of 1815". In the central part of this composition, the sculptor depicted the figure of Napoleon himself.
From the side of the Defense (Avenue de la Grande-Armée) there are two sculptures, the author of which is the famous French artist Antoine Etex. On the left you can see the "Peace of 1815", depicting the events of the Congress of Vienna. And on the right is a composition dedicated to the events of the French resistance in 1814.
Above the four sculptures, as well as on the sides of the Arc de Triomphe, there are 6 bas-reliefs with scenes of victories won by the French. From the side of Wagram Avenue there is an image of the battle near Austerlitz (1805), where the figures of Russian soldiers are visible. This bas-relief was created by Jean-Francois Theodor Gescher. And on the opposite side is the work of Carlo Marochetti. The bas-relief commemorates the battle near the town of Jemappe in Belgium, which took place between the French and the Austrians in 1792.
From the side of the city center, a bas-relief by Bernard Gabriel Serra or Serra the Elder is visible, on which the commander of the Ottoman Empire, Said Mustafa Pasha, is presented to Emperor Napoleon. These events took place after the French victory at the Battle of Cape Aboukir in Egypt (1799). And next to it is a bas-relief with a scene of the funeral of the French General Marceau, which happened in 1796.
From the side of the monument, facing the modern quarter of Defense, you can see the bas-reliefs that immortalized two famous battles: the battle of Arcola in Italy (1796) and the battle for the Egyptian Canob, which took place two years later.
In addition, the names of 128 battles in which the French army won, as well as the names of 660 military leaders, are written on the pillars of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The names of those who fell in battle are crossed out. The monument is surrounded by massive granite pedestals, which are connected by heavy cast-iron chains. They celebrate the hundred days when Napoleon ruled.
Arc de Triomphe today
Every year on July 14, a magnificent military parade ceremony is held near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Parisians and guests of the city lay wreaths and fresh flowers at the grave and the Memorial Flame. The President of the country and the remaining veterans take part in the celebration.
Inside the Parisian attraction, a museum of the same name is open, where you can learn about the history of its construction and the events that took place near the Arc de Triomphe. And at the top of the monument, an observation deck has been created, which is very popular with tourists. The attention that this observation point on the Chaillot hill attracts is not accidental. From here you have excellent views of the central part of the city and its suburbs. Having been at the top of the famous arch, one can understand why the path leading through it is called "Triumphal".
For tourists, the entrance to the observation deck and the museum exhibition is open seven days a week: from October to March from 10.00 to 22.30, and in other months - until 23.00.
How to get there
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris rises on the Place Charles de Gaulle. You can get to the monument from the Paris metro station Charles de Gaulle Etoile. In addition, many city buses run to the square.