Page 58 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

56 Arc de Triomphe, Paris

After his greatest victory, at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805,
Napoleon promised his men, "You shall go home beneath
triumphal arches." The first stone of what was to become
the world's most famous and largest triumphal arch was laid
the following year. However, disruptions to architect Jean
Chalgrin's plans, and the demise of Napoleonic power,
delayed the completion of this monumental building until
1836. Standing 164 ft (50 m) high, the arch is now the
customary starting point for victory celebrations and parades.

-< East fa~de of the
Arc de Triomphe Triumph of Napoleon
THE BATTLE OF VERDUN
-< Departure of the
Volunteers in 1792
On the day this World War I battle
Fr a n~oi s Rude's work shows
French citizens leaving to started in 1916, the sword carried by
defend the nation. This the figure representing France broke
patriotic relief is commonly off from Departure of the Vo!un teers in
known as "La Marseillaise." 1792. The relief was covered up so that
the public would not interpret it as a
sign of misfortune.

Frieze -----------1-'---;:E~~m~i;m!!~i
Running around the arch is a
v General Marceau's Funeral frieze executed by Rude, Brun,
Marceau defeated the Austrians in Jacquet, LaiM, Caillouette,
1 795, only to be killed when and Seurre the Elder. The east
fighting them the following year. fa~ade shows the departure
of the French armies for new
campaigns. The west side
shows their victorious return.
Battle of Aboukir -------!--±'"'---"
A bas-relief by Seurre the
Elder depicts a scene of
Napoleon's victory over
the Turkish army in 1799.

~ Triumph of Napoleon -----1'----
J. P Cortot's high-relief
celebrates the Trea1y of
Vienna peace agreement of
-~i~~~~~~~~fj~~~~~~~~~~jq -< Place Charles de Gaulle 1810. Victory, History, and
Twelve avenues radiate from the Fame surround Napoleon.
triumphal arch at the center of
this busy road junction. Some bear
the names of important French
military leaders. Baron H a ussma n,
in charge of urban planning under
Napoleon Ill, created the star-
shaped configuration. Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier v
A symbolic "eternal
flame" burns over the
grave of this French
victim of World War I.
KEY DATES
1806 1815 1836 1885 1920
Napoleon commissions With Napoleon's The arch is finally The body of French poet An unknown World war I
Jean Chalgrin to build downfall, the completed: 15 years and novelist Victor Hugo soldier is buried at the
the triumphal arch. construction of after Napoleon's death. is laid in state beneath center of the arch.
the arch ceases. the arch.