The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate a great military victory at Austerlitz. He proclaimed to his troops: “You will return to Paris under the arches of triumph.” Little did he know that the Arc would not be completed for thirty years, more than fifteen years after he passed away in exile.
The Arc de Triomphe was strategically chosen to be built at the western end of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, considered by many to be the most beautiful street in the world. The Arc serves as the hub of twelve important streets that radiate out in all directions.
This structure is one of the most famous in the world, and has inspired many other cities to construct similar arches, but none are as grand or as imposing as the original. Reliefs sculpted into the walls recall both the French Revolution and Roman mythology.
The Arc’s imposing size and grandeur have set the standard for monuments and public art, drawing millions of visitors every year.
“Imagination rules the world.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
