OK, you've seen it here and here already (and even here, thanks to Tomate Farcie) but here is another view of it... It? You know this big arch of triumph built at the top of the Champs Elysées in 1806 by Napoleon after he conquered most of Europe (well the actual architect was not Napoleon of course but Jean-François Thérèse Chalgrin). The arch was then completed in 1836 and it now keeps the memory of the dead killed in World War I (1914/1918). It's also a fabulous place to view Paris from above.
Eric, you posted very early! I was surprised to load this new photo so quick! L'Arc de Triomphe and the twelve avenues around it. From the top, I agree it is pretty nice but I recently found that on the top of Montparnasse tower the view was still more gorgeous ;)
ReplyDeleteCorinne
It's sooooo Paris, I like it. The way you took it was not predictable, I thought you would have taken it from closer. But finally it's better like that.
ReplyDeleteobviously, on tuesday, everybody is going to bed at 8p.m.
Bravo Corinne, you were first...
I love the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe - although admittedly I've not seen the view from the Tour Montparnasse. May be something for my next trip to Paris :-)
ReplyDeleteYay for Corinne! Lovely photo, Eric and it reminds me of a trip there a lot of years ago when i was driving. Quelle cauchemar! Scary isn't the word.
ReplyDeleteParis is doubly blessed with respect to aerial vantage points.
ReplyDeleteSure, every great city has its tall building or geographical rise from which one can take in a panoramic view, but few have as many as Paris - where they are not only well dispersed, but also things of beauty in themselves. Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur also come to mind. (As does the image of a camera-clutching Nadar - Gaspard-Félix Tournachon - in his much-satirised hot air balloon, which he named Le Géant due to its 6000 cubic metre capacity.)
Although rigid in its design, there is something undeniably noble about the Arc de Triomphe's sturdy, but melancholy, symmetry. Of course, with Roman roots and a multitude of modern resonances - some of them inspiring horror, other pathos - it could hardly be otherwise.
Lynn I have to confess that when I take this roundabout by car, I have to scream for myself to have the courage to go through!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Guille and Lynn! It was really unexpected for me because of the unusual hour of Eric's post today ... But still, I am very very proud to be the Golden finger of the Day (wow)!!
ReplyDeleteIs there a register in which our names appears in golden ink ? LOL
You are right Lynn, driving Place de l'Etoile can become a real nightmare specially when you don't know well your way...
BTW, Guille as a French, do you remember easily the names of the twelve avenues? Not me, I always forgot one or two!
Yes, tonight I have to write "I have to" at least three times by sentence. I have to. :)
ReplyDeleteHeuuuu Corinne, absolutely not!!
ReplyDeleteGrande armée, Kleber, Marceau... Iéna...Carnot...Hugo...arggg.....Foch...
Twelve, it's too much!! And lot of them are names of our old Presidents,almost unknown.
And Friedland! And Wagram! Shame on me.
ReplyDeleteThree are missing. I'm going to check in my Plan de Paris!
ReplyDeleteChamps Elysées of course and ??
ReplyDeleteAfter checking: Mac Mahon, Hoche and.....CHAMPS ELYSEES!! How can I forget this one??
ReplyDeleteOkay, I stop my monologue.
Good night.
My first real view of le Tour Eiffel was from l'Arc de Triomphe. It is an elegant experience, viewing some of the best of the historical city. I didn't want to leave, but dinner called.
ReplyDeleteThe view from le Tour Montparnasse is stunning, as you view the whole city. The only better view? From the
Eiffel Tower!
Eiffel Tower!
Eiffel Tower!
Guille i consider screaming to be a good idea in those circumstances. LOL. I do recall thinking that if i closed my eyes at that point, the result would probably be the same. Never again.
ReplyDeleteI think I spent more time watching the traffic from the top of the Arc than I did the city. My favourite from the Arc is the sign at the botom of the stairs that says something to the effect of "if you don't think you're able to climb these then don't try". I wonder how many "rescues" are performed each year. Those are amazing stairs.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I climbed up that winding staircase inside all the way to the tippy tippy top (quite an accomplishment, if you ask me :)).
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of any picture of the L'Arc is looking for the tiny little people peeking out over the top. If you enlarge Eric's photo, there is a man on the right side who has both hands up in the air as if to say, "I'm the King of the World...."
The thing I remember most from when I went to the Arch was the climb up the stairs. I still don't know how I did it with my asthma, and the girl I was with broke her foot at some point that day from all of the walking we did...
ReplyDeleteDid somebody say:
ReplyDeleteEiffel Tower!
Eiffel Tower!!
Eiffel Tower!!!
HAHA Jeff that got my attention.
Justine I had a huge asthma attack at the top of the stairs. I have to say though, the view from up there was worth the attack! It was...wait for it...BREATHTAKING!
Thank you, Eric!
Lynn and Guille, if you think driving this roundabout is scary, try to cross it by feet!
ReplyDeleteWell, I did that once when I didn't know better... at least I survived.
I almost most made it to the top last year. But when I arrived there the access to the stairs had just closed. Of course this gives me the perfect excuse to go back to Paris.
I think it probably was for the best that I didn't get to climb those stairs that day. I was just coming back from Notre Dame where I had just climbed the hundreds stairs to la Tour. What in God's name was I thinking? I survived crossing those avenues by feet but I probably wouldn't survive climbing the stairs of two monuments on the same day!
Corinne congrats for being number one tonight!
I've been arriving home too late these days to be able to compete...
Goodness we just had a minor earth tremor here in the UK! Yes really. 4.7 on the Richter scale. I was just dropping off to sleep. I must say at first i wondered if it was Michael landing in his helicopter to whisk me off to Paree for coffee, but no it was simply an earth tremor lol ! Quite strong actually. So far can't see any damage. You heard it here first. LOL ! Back to zzzzz now ....
ReplyDeleteWoah, Lynn, hope you can drift back off to sleep. Having lived through several major California quakes, I can sympathize with the alarm that rises when you have even a bit of a jolt like this. Glad all is well.
ReplyDeleteEric, I love your angle on this shot, and the sky show around the Arch. It does offer a wonderful vantage point to take in the city. Can you tell me, do they allow people up there at night? (We went in the morning.) Thanks,
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo
Magnificent! I love the photos you linked to as well, Eric. The White Dinner looks very exclusive. How does one get invited? Anybody know?
ReplyDeleteWe climbed the stairs to the top of Notre Dame. Looks may be deceiving, but that looked higher than the Arc to me. Which steps are the most difficult? We arrived at the Arc in time for the surprisingly impressive ceremony of the Unknown Soldier. It happens every day! The story of how it continued during the occupation is compelling.
Lynn, first the floods and now earthquakes??
ReplyDeletePetrea: Notre Dame, about 250 steps (I'll say!), Arc du Triumphe about 200 steps of a spiral staircase. I hear it can make one quite dizzy. I'd advice you to ask Eric exactly how many steps are there, but he was smart enought to get the elevator last year.
Notre Dame? Quatre cent pas, certainement! At least it seemed like it. Best not to do both on the same day.
ReplyDeleteWell I can't believe all of these comments and nobody mentioned the brand new permanent exhibit at the Arch!
ReplyDeleteMinister Christine Albanel inaugurated the renovation on 11 February 2008 and even "re-lit" the flame for the unknown soldier underneath.
There is much more information
HERE in French
and
HERE and HERE in English.
hmmmm pourquoi l'Arch de Triomphe aujourdhui? juste curieuse.
ReplyDeleteYes Monica. We people in Cheltenham seem to have incurred someone's wrath. It wasn't me!
ReplyDeleteMonica
ReplyDeleteThere are 284 steps in l'Arc Triomphe and 380 to the very top of Notre Dame.
I have counted the ones in l'arc myself more than once as it is my favourite place in the whole of Paris...specially the view of Sacre Couer at night... amazing!
Latest, more accurate reading is 5.2 on the Richter scale. Some structural damage and one person in hospital. I'm sure some of you must think this is nothing considering different parts of the world you are in! Not usual here in the UK. What about you, Eric? Ever felt the earth move in Paris? ;)
ReplyDeleteHe will soon, Lynn, when I come to Paris ;)
ReplyDeleteLOOOOL Anne! So funny. Watch out, Eric!
ReplyDeleteWell. It's a funny old day in the UK. We don't protest in the streets as much as you do in France, Oh no, our protestors climb onto the roof of the Houses of Parliament. Yes, it's happening right now. Protesting against a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Question is, how on earth did they get passed through our tight security - i mean those historically dressed old men in tights - to get up there? Beats me.
ReplyDeleteCan i just move to beautiful Paris and be done with it, please?
ReplyDeleteI stayed near here when I was in Paris last spring. Breathtaking sight:)
ReplyDeleteThey climbed onto the roof of house of Parliament?? Whaaa! We have a lot of strikes in France but I think if some strikers do that in the Hotel Matignon or in the Palais Bourbon, the President, chief of the Army, will order to shoot them! LOL.
ReplyDeleteHow is it right now? What happenned next? Did the Police shoot them with fake bullets?
No, Guille, the police had a chat with them. Yes, a chat. Then they cut them free as some had handcuffed themselves to railings. The protestors said they wanted to stay there until the Prime Minister had gone into Questions, and i'm guessing, but they seem to have been allowed! I too am surprised they were not shot because, at the beginning, no-one knew what their cause was. We are soft here in Britain. Sorry but it's my view. We are too polite, too pandering to human rights and have lost authority. People scale buildings here to make a protest - which may or may not have its merits - because, they can. All in my opinion of course. Police are scared of getting it wrong, but if they had been terrorists, it could have been awful.
ReplyDeleteThere's a bit more info at my blog, but they got huge banners, rope, handcuffs through the entry security. Obviously the entry arrangements would seem to be wholly inadequate, and then, once in, they are treated with a softly-softly approach. They have now been arrested for Trespass, but of course it's far too late.
ReplyDeleteI feel like breaking out and singing the Marseillaise everytime I look at the Arc. I settle for singing it inside my head, but luckily, I've never been on the Champs July 14th. I know I would be hauled away.
ReplyDeleteI feel like breaking out and singing the Marseillaise everytime I look at the Arc. I settle for singing it inside my head, but luckily, I've never been on the Champs July 14th. I know I would be hauled away.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I go back to Paris, I am always impressed at how big this monument really is. The pictures do not do it justice, actually. It really is *much bigger* in person. Didn't someone fly a small plane through it at some point, I forget?
ReplyDeleteYou can see La Defense in the back, wayyyyyyyyy back...
ReplyDeleteGuille I answered your question (suggestion) in yesterday's comments.
ReplyDeleteYes, Tomate, someone did fly a small plane thru the arch.
ReplyDeleteHi Monica!
I'm in training for all those steps, Eric.
ReplyDeleteI remember my step-mother getting very claustrophobic in the stair way up.
ReplyDelete==Alaska
Bonsoir,
ReplyDeleteJe suis brésilien et il ya dix ans que je suis allé à l'inoubliable Paris.
Pardonnez mon français (J'ai besoin d'étudier - il y a 25 ans que je n'étude pas votre langue), mais j'avait de faire un commentaire sur votre blog.
Now, in english :))
It's light (the posts are so good to read) and, as an amateur photographer, I like very much your photos.
They pick all the flavor, colors an d spirit of the streets.
Congratulations!
I'm planning to get back to Paris in september (with my wife - the first year celebration of our wedding - and your website (a post from Dec/2005) came in one of my google searchs - a very nice surprise.
If you like, you can visit my flickr, and see some photos from Brazil (Rio, mainly) - and some from Paris, 10 years ago.
Regards,
Daniel.
Thanks for the tip, Michael.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't planning on returning to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, but now I most certainly will.
The Arc impressed me so much, I was not planning on being so awed by it. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYes I posted early because I am very tired these days.. Lot of work at the office (you know what I'm talking about Corinne!)
ReplyDeleteMonica "Lynn and Guille, if you think driving this roundabout is scary, try to cross it by feet!". I think it's forbidden, isn't? There is a tunnel underneath the Place de l'Etoile, why not use it??
Lynn, earthquake? in England??? Then demonstrations too? What's happening on the other side of La Manche (sorry The Channel!). To answer your question "What about you, Eric? Ever felt the earth move in Paris? ;)" No, never!
Kim, they accept people until 10:30 pm in the winter and 11 pm in the summer.
Petrea, there are no invitations for the white dinner, only word of mouth, that's what makes it exclusive. You must hear about it!
Lynn "I'd advice you to ask Eric exactly how many steps are there, but he was smart enought to get the elevator last year."
Thank god for that!
Michael "Minister Christine Albanel inaugurated the renovation on 11 February 2008 and even "re-lit" the flame for the unknown soldier underneath." I did not know that??
Anonymous : "hmmmm pourquoi l'Arch de Triomphe aujourdhui? juste curieuse."
Sans aucune raison particulière...
LOL Anne...
Tomate "Didn't someone fly a small plane through it at some point, I forget?". Yes, but I don't remember well.
I am leaving the race tonight, having kept one ear open most of the night in case of another quake. Like i could stop it! lol. Good luck you golden finger contestants!
ReplyDeletehe he i'm ready too Lynn.
ReplyDeleteYes Eric amazing isn't it. I've now experienced two earthquakes in the UK, last was in 2002. This was stronger though. Now i must go to my (stationary) bed. Night.
ReplyDeleteLOL GUILLE !!! ahahaha that really made me laugh. You are too clever but i AM going to bed. Honestly! I just...stayed a little bit...longer...to read Eric,...that was all....
ReplyDeleteLoool. I can't trust you.
ReplyDeleteEric, like I said I didn't know better by then. A few days later I found out about the tunnel underneaath the arch. What can I say, I'm a tourist, tourists sometimes do embarrassing things!
ReplyDeleteHi Phx!! Night Phx!!
I have never driven in Paris although on my last trip, I almost got caught on the highway on our way to Giverny. No idea how but I was driving then noticed Paris straight ahead and I almost had a heart attack. Didn't want to attempt it. London was enough! LOL
ReplyDeleteYou're not allowed to cross the roundabout to the Arc de Triomphe, I think you have to take the underground passage. I haven't seen it completed but will do when I head over to Paris in September. Last time I was there they were still work being done on it.
Yes, Eric, I do! You know, you probably need to be on vacation. It feels good to take a little break, not too long.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back next monday but that won't help you a lot at work!
See U later.
Last year I saw a guy dodging cars - or the cars were dodging him - as he crossed on foot and he had in his hand a bottle of bubbly and two glasses! It was either the most romantic or dumbest thing I've ever seen.
ReplyDelete