Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile
Did you know that Paris has more than one Arc de Triomphe. Possibly the most well-known is the Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile, located in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. This arc honors those who fought and died for France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Beneath it lies the tomb of the unknown soldier.
Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile
Located at the end of Champs Élyssés, traffic circulates around the arc at what seems a terrifying speed to the tourist on foot! Thankfully, tourists wishing to climb to the top of the Arc (the views are wonderful) access the arc via an underground passage.
View from the Top
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in front of the Louvre was started in 1806 as was the Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile but the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was completed in 1809 and it took 36 years to finish the Arc d’Étoile. In addition, the Arc of the Carousel is only 64 feet tall compared to the Arc d’Étoile which stands at 164 feet high. It also honors those who have fought and died for France.
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
Arcs de Triomphes: de Porte St Denis and de Porte St Martin
In searching for the other Arc de Triomphe in Paris, I started the morning by arriving at Metro Strasbourg St. Denis in the tenth arrondissement. The goal was to find the Porte St Martin and Porte St Denis. Both of the triumphal arch monuments replaced gates in the original city wall that dated from Charles V, late 1600s. Louis XIV commissioned each Arc de Triomphe to commemorate his war victories.
Arc de Triomphe de Porte St Denis, Viewed from rue du Faubourg St-Denis
Turning west on Boulevard St Denis you will see the Arc de Triomphe de Porte St Denis (1672) in front of you. Behind you is the Arc de Triomphe de Porte St Martin(1674) which we will examine later in the post. Porte St Denis is approximately 81 feet tall, 82 feet wide and 16 feet deep.
Porte St-Denis
The inscription reads ” To Louis the Great “
The bas-relief on the southern side of Porte St Denis represents Louis XIV’s victories along the Rhine and in Holland.
Retracing our steps eastward back down Boulevard St Denis we return back to Porte St Martin. This Arc de Triomphe is not nearly as grand as St Denis. This monument commemorates the capture of Besançon and the Franche-Comté region by Louis XIV.
Arc de Triomphe de St Martin
Just across the square from St Martin is the Theatre du Renaissance. This is definitely worth examining for the lovely Italian style architecture. This building was built the same time the Porte St Martin was built in 1872. The architect for this building was the Charles de Lalande, assistant to Charles Garnier – architect of the Opera.
From this point it is an easy walk to several of the beautiful Passages Galeries found in this arrondissement (quartier).
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