The Arc de Triomphe is located in Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly Place de l’Étoile) and honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The location of the Arc is situated between three arrondissements; the 16th (south and west), the 17th (north) and the 8th (east).
Two of the four main sculptural groups are seen above. Left: Le Triomphe de 1810 by Jean-Pierre Cortot which celebrates the Treaty of Schönbrunn; this group features Napoleon crowned by the goddess of Victory. Right: Le Départ de 1792 (or La Marseillaise), by François Rude which celebrates the cause of the French First Republic during the August 10th uprising. The two groups on the other side of the Arc de Triomphe are La Résistance de 1814 which commemorates the French Resistance to the Allied Armies during the War of the Sixth Coalition and La Paix de 1815 which commemorates the Treaty of Paris. Both were sculpted by Antoine Étex.
Above Le Triomphe de 1810 is La bataille d’Aboukir, July, 25 1799. Above Le Départ de 1792 is Les funérailles du général Marceau, September 20, 1796.
Above left: the eastern pillar of the inner façades; above centre shows the ceiling with 21 sculpted roses. The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces.
Above: Avenue des Champs-Élysées; view from the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe was designed by Jean Chalgrin (1739–1811) in 1806 and was inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome, Italy.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies beneath the Arc de Triomphe. It was interred on Armistice Day 1920. An eternal flame burns in memory of those from both world wars who died with no known graves. An annual ceremony is held on site on November 11th.