Arc de triomphe
Until the middle of the 19th century, the place de l'Etoile was nothing more than an empty space.
It was around the mid-18th century that Paris authorities began wondering how to landscape the immense five-street crossroad at the top of the Champs Elysees.
Napoléon Bonaparte, still glowing from his victory at the battle of Austerlitz, was the one to decide to construct a giant monument dedicated to the Imperial Army. The edifice was to take the shape of a triumphant arc, a vain allusion to his own military genius and to "epic" Antiquity. The scale of the project was awe-inspiring: 50 metres tall and 45 meters across. It was Jean François Chalgrin who began the designs, succeeded by architects Goust and Huyot under the directorship of Viscount Hericart de Thury.
The one and only Arc of Triomphe, towering above a bustling centre of business and tourism as an architectural and artistic beacon, will be forever linked to the French "collective unconscious." It is monumental icon in both Paris's urban and cultural landscapes.
Arc de triomphespecial selection of our hotels
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From 121€
Timhotel Invalides Eiffel
Hotel with patio near Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower
Discover our elegant 3-star hotel, ideally located in the chic 7th arrondissement, a stone's throw from Les Invalides and a short distance from the majestic Eiffel Tower and its Champs-de-Mars. Enjoy a romantic stroll along the banks of the...
Chic central district
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From 103€
Timhotel Opéra Madeleine
Hotel in front of the Gare Saint Lazare, close to the Grands Magasins and the Opéra
Discover Paris during your stay at our 3-star hotel, ideally located in the 8th arrondissement in front of the Saint-Lazare station. Nestled in a magnificent Haussmann-style building, the Timhotel Opéra Madeleine offers you the authentic...
In front of the station Gare Saint-Lazare
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From 88€
Timhotel Tour Eiffel
Hotel with patio between the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides
Discover our 3-star hotel, ideally located in the heart of the 15th arrondissement of Paris, less than 500 metres from the Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars and Les Invalides. For shopping enthusiasts, the Beaugrenelle shopping centre is...
Close to the Eiffel Tower and the quays of the Seine