We went to the Arc de Triomphe (ark-duh-tree-umpf) one day when we were riding the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour Bus. We got off about a block from the Arc so we could walk up the Champs-Elysees (shawn-zey-la-zey). This is a very famous boulevard, not only for history, but for SHOPPING! If you want designer stuff, this is where you get it. We opted not to shop, but wanted to walk up it anyway. The Champs-Elysees is also known as the "triumphal way" since the homecoming of Napoleon's body from St. Helena in 1840. After his greatest victory, the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon promised his men they would "go home beneath triumphal arches." The construction on the Arc de Triomphe was started the next year, but because of disruptions and the demise of Napoleon's power, the structure wasn't finished until 1836 - not many years before Napoleon's body was to come home. In 1921, on Armistice Day, the body of the Unknown Soldier was placed beneath the arch to commemorate the dead of World War I. The flame of remembrance which burns above the tomb is relit by various veterans organizations each evening. There is a viewing platform on top of the Arc which overlooks the length of the Champs-Elysees. You can pay to go up to the top of the Arc but it is all stairs, so we opted not to go up there. The last picture is looking back down the Champs-Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe.
Dublin Time
5 comments:
I love how pretty the underneath of the arches is, I've never seen that part of it before! I also love that even the McDonald's in Paris is classier ;> What cool stores did you see? Did you go past the famous Dior shop like in that little book we read? (can't remember the name)
We didn't do any shopping on the Champs-Elysees. I sort of regret that now. I kind of wish I had at least bought a designer purse or scarf. But at the time, my feet were just so tired, I was doing good to just get up the avenue - and here I thought I was getting in shape from all the walking I have done in Ireland. :0+
Cool! I am glad you got to make the trip!
Paris has some beautiful sights to see!
That arc is so cool. I'm just now finding some time to read all your posts so look at some others for comments.
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