Arc de Triomphe Paris

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is the world's largest triumphal arch. It magnificently forms the backdrop over the very impressive urban sights of Paris. This monument stands above the hill of Chaillot at the center of 12 main avenues and is the uppermost site of a vista that can be seen all across the Champs Elysées from the Tuileries gardens to the Obélisque de Luxor. At the bottom of the Arc's pillars are four grand sculptures that celebrate the Resistance and Peace more commonly known as "La Marseillaise". The sword carried by the figure representing the Republic was destroyed on La Marseillaise and a replacement was made to hide the accident but this incident has sometimes been construed by locals to have been a "bad omen" in terms of the Resistance. At the top of the Arch, the names of major victories are engraved and these are the battles which have been won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. There are also many names of less important victories and the names of hundreds of generals on the inside walls of the Arch. There is a small museum that has evidence of the history and construction of the Arc de Triomphe. The Arch is certainly a great place in Paris for tourists to stop and enjoy.