La place de l'Etoile, devenue place Charles -de-Gaulle et l'Arc de TriompheTwelve avenues radiate from the Arc de Triomphe, the customary starting point for victory celebrations and parades in Paris. This 50 metre high monumental building was conceived by Napolean after his greatest military victory the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Having promised his men that "You shall go home beneath triumphal arches", the first stone was laid the following year and work was completed in 1836 after many delays and disruptions (including Napolean's fall from power).
4 comments:
Are you renting a car, or cabbing it around the city?
We rented a Smart Car (because I thought they were adorable) - then made the mistake of getting in the circle around the arc de triomphe. I'm still vaguely surprised we made it out alive.
The first time I was in Paris, I didn't realize there was an underground route to get to the arc - and we tried to CROSS the traffic circle LOL. You've never heard so many horns blaring!
When my father goes to Paris, the first thing he likes to do is drive directly to that circle around the Arch to 'practice driving' in Paris. But my favorite thing is to go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and watch the traffic from up high! Remarkable and too funny!
Thanks for the photo and the memories!
Kirsten
Can't you just see Tristan dodging traffic and hearing the irate locals cursing the crazy tourist!??
Jjjj
Great memories spinning around this in a car and hoping to live. :) Hope our trip is going well.
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