At the top of the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe crowns one of the most prestigious vistas in Paris. Its panoramic terrace offers a dizzying outlook over the twelve avenues radiating from Place Charles-de-Gaulle.
The Arc de Triomphe at a glance
Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 and completed in 1836, it stands 50 metres high; the terrace is reached by 284 steps, with no lift. Beneath the arch, the flame of the Unknown Soldier is rekindled every evening.
Don't miss
The panoramic terrace gives a 360° view of the twelve avenues of the Étoile and down the Champs-Élysées to Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. On the façade, the monumental sculptures, including Rude's La Marseillaise, are worth a stop, as is the rekindling of the flame, which is open to all.
Visiting tips
Access is only via the underground passage: never cross the roundabout at street level. Go in the late afternoon for the light, or in the last hour before closing to see the city lit up.
Close by
The Champs-Élysées runs down to Place de la Concorde, lined with shops, cafés and cinemas, while Avenue Foch, one of the widest in Paris, opens out with its gardens. A few Métro stops away, the Palais de Chaillot offers the finest view of the Eiffel Tower.
