Arc+de+Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

Paris
The Arc de Triomphe is a monument that Napoleon requested built in Paris. The design of the actual arch was by Jean Chalgrin. It is located directly north of The Eiffel Tower. The construction of the Arc de Triomphe started in 1806 which is over 200 years ago! The monument was finished in 1836. The project costed 9.3 million dollars which would cost 183.3 million dollars now.

Napoleon built the structure to honor the Grande Armee which was the name of the military of France at the time. The reason why the monument is an arc is because when the Grande Armee was to return home, Napoleon wanted them to pass through the arc as a symbol to show that they made it home and that they are safe. All the victorious battles and the French generals are written on the walls of the Arc de Triomphe.

Oddly enough the space that is occupied by the Arc de Triomphe was going to be dedicated to a giant elephant sculpture. It was ready to be built but the French government denied the request due to what is now the Arc de Triomphe. Not only is this monument a tribute to soldiers, it is a marker to a tomb under it for the Unknown Soldier which is something that many other countries have, too. Because of this symbolism, military parades and such now detour around the arch rather than through it.