🇫🇷 Paris
Arc de Triomphe
Napoleon commissioned it in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz, but it was not finished until 1836, long after his fall. The eternal flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath it has been rekindled every evening since 1923.
Napoleon ordered the arch in 1806 to glorify his armies after Austerlitz, modeled on the Roman Arch of Titus but far larger. It took 30 years to build and was only completed in 1836, long after Napoleon's exile and death. The outer surfaces carry the names of his generals and battles, and the most famous of the sculpted reliefs is Rude's "La Marseillaise" (the departure of the volunteers of 1792).
Underneath sits France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. Its eternal flame is rekindled every evening at 18:30, the longest-running such ceremony in the world, so it is worth timing a visit to catch it.
You can climb to the rooftop terrace (284 steps, or a lift for those who need it) for one of the best views in Paris: the twelve avenues radiating out in a star (the Étoile), straight down the Champs-Élysées, and across to the Eiffel Tower.
Two practical notes:
- Use the underground passage to reach it. Do not try to cross the traffic circle on foot; it is one of the busiest, most chaotic roundabouts anywhere.
- Wednesdays are cheaper in summer (~€16 vs ~€22), and under-18s are free.
It pairs naturally with the Napoleon story in the library and a walk down the Champs-Élysées.
Audio tour: the Arc is the starting point of Rick Steves' Champs-Élysées Walk, a free self-guided audio tour in the library.