L'Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile

The iconic Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is situated in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, France. Commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, the monument stands at 50 meters tall and is the grandest of all the arches in France. Made of marble and carved stone, the arc's 14 reliefs depict French soldiers who lost their lives during the Napoleonic campaigns. Visitors can climb the 284 steps to the top of the arch and enjoy magnificent views of the Avenue des Champs-Elysées unraveling in the background. Under the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring the thousands who lost their lives in the two World Wars. At the base of the arch is the Flame of Liberty, a memorial of Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.