The Arc de Triomphe stands at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, anchoring the vast Place Charles de Gaulle where twelve avenues meet. Its scale is startling up close: carved reliefs cover the pillars, including François Rude’s stirring La Marseillaise, while the city’s traffic circles relentlessly around it.
Napoleon commissioned the monument in 1806 to honour the French army, but it was not completed until 1836, long after his death. Beneath the arch lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, commemorating those who died in the First World War. An eternal flame, first lit in 1923, is rekindled each evening, giving this grand Paris landmark a distinctly solemn purpose.
The climb to the rooftop is worth the effort for one of the best views in Paris. Look east along the Champs-Élysées toward the Louvre, west toward La Défense and across the rooftops to the Eiffel Tower. At dusk, the radiating avenues and the roundabout below become especially mesmerising.
Use the pedestrian underpass to reach the monument; do not attempt to cross the busy roundabout. Book a rooftop ticket online or arrive early to reduce the wait, particularly in summer. Expect a substantial stair climb, and check ahead for accessibility arrangements and any weather-related closures.