Arc de Triomphe & Avenue des Champs-Élysées
凯旋门与香榭丽舍大街 · 8th arrondissement, Paris, France
The arch Napoleon raised for his returning armies and a 1.9-kilometre avenue together form the axis and the face of Paris
Know before you go
- Never walk across the circular traffic of the square — the many radiating streams of traffic have no pedestrian crossings and it is extremely dangerous
- do not climb the stone railings at the base of the arch or carve or scribble on the reliefs
- do not sit or lie on the tomb steps, eat there or take loud selfies
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Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Stories of Arc de Triomphe & Avenue des Champs-Élysées
After the victory at Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon promised his army: "You will march home under triumphal arches." The Arc de Triomphe was founded in 1806, modelled on Rome's Arch of Titus but nearly twice its size. Napoleon did not live to see it finished: construction stopped and started repeatedly, and it was only completed in 1836 under Louis-Philippe. In 1840 Napoleon's remains were brought back from Saint Helena to Paris, and on the way to burial at Les Invalides the cortège passed slowly beneath the arch — fulfilling the promise in another way. The most famous of the arch's reliefs is Rude's *La Marseillaise* (also known as *The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792*). In 1920 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was laid beneath the arch, and the eternal flame lit in 1923 is still rekindled every evening at 18:30 by veterans' associations, without a single interruption. The Champs-Élysées at its feet takes its name from the Elysian Fields, the Greek-myth paradise; in the 17th century it was a tree-lined extension of the Tuileries Garden, and today its eastern stretch is greenery and theatres while the west is lined with flagship stores and cafés — the Bastille Day parade, the Tour de France finale and the New Year countdown, all of Paris's great occasions, happen along this axis.
Source: Arc de Triomphe (official website); Wikipedia: Arc de Triomphe; Wikipedia: Champs-Élysées
History
History of Arc de Triomphe & Avenue des Champs-Élysées
The Arc de Triomphe stands 50 metres high and 45 metres wide, designed by the architect Jean Chalgrin; its inner walls are carved with the names of 558 generals and the battles of the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of the fallen underlined. The Champs-Élysées is about 1.9 kilometres long, running west from the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly Place de l'Étoile, where 12 avenues radiate and meet) to the Place de la Concorde in the east, forming the core section of Paris's historic axis (Louvre — Tuileries — Concorde — Champs-Élysées — Arc de Triomphe — La Défense). At great moments — the liberation after the Second World War, World Cup victories — the Champs-Élysées is where Parisians gather spontaneously to celebrate.
Source: Arc de Triomphe (official website); Wikipedia: Arc de Triomphe; Wikipedia: Champs-Élysées
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Arc de Triomphe – Champs-Élysées axis is the stage for Paris's "grand narrative": from dynastic triumphs and republican parades to sporting carnival, it carries the French way of expressing collective glory. The eastern stretch keeps gardens and theatres (around the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Palais de la Découverte circus quarter), while the west is a window-lined corridor of luxury flagships and century-old cafés such as Fouquet's.
Local customs
- Every evening at 18:30 there is a brief ceremony to rekindle the eternal flame beneath the arch, attended by veterans and a military band, which visitors may watch standing in silence, free of charge
- on New Year's Eve the avenue has a light show and countdown
- on the monthly car-free first Sunday, local families take over the whole avenue on bicycles and on foot.
Religion & beliefs
- No particular religious affiliation
- it is a national memorial monument. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the arch is a solemn place of remembrance — please stop talking, remove your hat and stand respectfully, and do not clown around or pose for playful photos there.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Never walk across the circular traffic of the square — the many radiating streams of traffic have no pedestrian crossings and it is extremely dangerous
- do not climb the stone railings at the base of the arch or carve or scribble on the reliefs
- do not sit or lie on the tomb steps, eat there or take loud selfies
Locals appreciate DO
- Use the underground passage to reach and leave the base of the Arc de Triomphe — the entrances are on the Champs-Élysées and Avenue de la Grande Armée sides
- climb at sunset, when you can take in the daytime streetscape, the first lights and the illuminated Eiffel Tower (which sparkles on the hour) in a single visit
- keep your voice down at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame, and make room for the ceremony and for those laying flowers
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Climbing the Arc de Triomphe requires a ticket (the top overlooks 12 avenues radiating in a star)
- the lift is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility, and everyone else must climb 284 steps
- Never cross the roundabout traffic at street level to reach the Arc de Triomphe: always use the underground passage on the Concorde / Champs-Élysées side — this is a safety red line
- The Bastille Day military parade on 14 July and the Tour de France finale are held here each year, with road closures in the area on the day, so plan ahead
- on the first Sunday of each month the Champs-Élysées is closed to cars for part of the day, ideal for walking and photographs
- Arc de Triomphe opening hours: April–September 10:00–23:00, October–March 10:00–22:30 (adjusted on public holidays — see the official website)
- tickets about €13–16, free for under-18s and EU residents under 26. The Champs-Élysées is open all day and free. Getting there: Metro lines 1/2/6 and RER A to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile station. Suggested duration: 45 minutes for the climb plus about 45 minutes to walk the avenue from the arch to the Place de la Concorde — half a day in all, stringing together the Tuileries and the Louvre into one line.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Classic French dishes at Fouquet's, with its brass plaques signed by celebrities
Classic French dishes at Fouquet's, with its brass plaques signed by celebrities; macarons and a French brunch at the Ladurée flagship on the avenue; a jambon-beurre baguette sandwich, the national lunch from corner bakeries; a butter-and-sugar crêpe from a street stand
| Where to eat | Restaurants on the avenue itself are pricey and tourist-oriented; one or two streets north, around Avenue Montaigne and the small streets of the 8th arrondissement (such as Rue du Colisée), are bistros frequented by locals, with better value |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Seats at the avenue's café terraces are zoned by consumption — once you sit down you are expected to order; book smart restaurants ahead for dinner and mind the dress code (avoid sport shorts and flip-flops); Paris restaurants do not hurry their guests, and a slow pace of eating is normal |
| Typical price per person | A simple meal at an avenue café €20–35 per person, roughly RMB 155–275; lunch at a side-street bistro in the 8th €15–25 per person, roughly RMB 115–195 (reference prices, estimated at €1 ≈ RMB 7.8) |
| Tips | The first Sunday of the month, when the avenue is closed to cars, is the best time for photographs and strolling; for a full view of the arch, shoot from the Avenue de la Grande Armée or the mid-avenue pavement — never stand in the roadway to get your shot |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Photos
Photos
Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain
David McSpadden from Daly City, United States · CC BY 2.0
Sources & verification notes
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