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Arc de Triomphe Facts

Arc de Triomphe Facts
The Arc de Triomphe is a famous monument located in Paris, France. Its construction was ordered by the French Emperor Napoleon in 1806 to honor the French army - the Grande Armee. The French army was considered invincible after they had conquered most of Europe and were victorious at Austerlitz in 1805. Napoleon told his soldiers that they would return home through arcs symbolizing their triumphs. Although construction began in 1806 and wasn't completed until 1836, 15 years after Napoleon died. His body was moved through the Arc de Triomphe in 1840 on its way to his final resting place.
Interesting Arc de Triomphe Facts:
At the time of its construction it cost 9.3 million francs to build the Arc de Triomphe - a massive fortune at the time.
The architects of the Arch de Triomphe included Jean Chalgrin, who died in 1811 before completion, and Jean-Nicolas Huyot, who took over when Jean Chalgrin died.
Although Napoleon never got to see the completed monument, he had a wooden model built so that in 1810 he was able to ride through on his return to Paris with his new wife Archduchess Marie-Louise from Austria.
The Arc de Triomphe is located at the center of 12 avenues which radiate outward.
The Arc de Triomphe's dimensions are: 162 feet tall, 150 feet wide, 72 feet deep. The vault is 95.8 feet tall and 48 feet wide. The smaller vault is 61.3 feet tall and 27.7 feet wide.
Until 1982 the Arc de Triomphe was the largest triumphal arch at 162 feet in height and 150 feet in width. North Korea built one just slightly larger in 1982 to outdo it.
After World War I ended Charles Godefroy flew his fighter plane through the Arc de Triomphe in tribute to the airmen killed in the war.
France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies under the Arc de Triomphe. It was placed there on November 10th, 1920 with the inscription above it reading, "Here lies a French soldier who died for his fatherland 1914-1918."
The Marseille relief of the Arc de Triomphe suffered damage in 1916. The warrior representing France in the relief was depicted with a sword, which snapped off on the same day that the Battle of Verdun began. Tarps were used to cover the relief to hide it from citizens so they wouldn't see it and think it was bad omen. In the Battle of Verdun more than 250 million French people died and nine villages were destroyed.
Two unsuccessful assassination attempts took place at the Arc de Triomphe - against Charles De Gaulle and Jacques Chirac. Both men survived.
Although the Arc de Triomphe is a symbol of France's victories it has been desecrated by enemy armies marching underneath on two occasions, by the Germans in 1871, and the Nazis in WWII.
The Arc de Triomphe has a memorial flame that has been burning non-stop since November 11th, 1923.
Famous victory marches by the French have taken place following wars. They marched in 1919 after WWI, and with the Allies in 1944 and in 1945.


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