
Opening Hours
From 1 April to 30 September - 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
From 1 October to 31 March - 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Please note that ticket booths will stop selling tickets 30 minutes before closing time. Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 8 May (morning only), 14 July (morning only), 11 November (morning only) and 25 December.
How to get there
Address: Place Charles de Gaulle
Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
RER: Line A Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
Bus: 73
Photography Policy
Photography is permitted.
From 1 April to 30 September - 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
From 1 October to 31 March - 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Please note that ticket booths will stop selling tickets 30 minutes before closing time. Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 8 May (morning only), 14 July (morning only), 11 November (morning only) and 25 December.
How to get there
Address: Place Charles de Gaulle
Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
RER: Line A Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
Bus: 73
Photography Policy
Photography is permitted.

The Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s iconic tribute to both himself and the troops who took part in the Napoleonic Wars, is another of those magnificent Paris landmarks that have been photographed so often that there would seem little chance of adding your own interpretation.
I have to confess that I think it is much harder finding a unique angle on this huge triumphal arch, completed in the 1830s and based on Rome’s Arch of Titus, in comparison with many other tourist goals in the French capital. That’s partly to do with the fact that it just offers fewer possibilities and partly because I don’t find it as interesting or stimulating as other landmarks, although I acknowledge the special place it has in the hearts and minds of the French people.

Hub
It’s a hugely impressive structure set in the middle of an important Paris roundabouts, the Place Charles de Gaulle, which is the hub for no fewer than 13 major roads. In the midst of this hustle and bustle sits the arch, 51m tall and 45m wide, reputedly the second largest of its kind in the world behind one in North Korea built in 1982 in honour of Kim Il-sung.
The arch is adorned with such notable sculptures as the “Departure of the Volunteers” by Francois Rude and the “Triumph of Napoleon” by J. P. Cortot. There are 30 shields at the apex of the arch recalling each of Napoleon’s victories and the the inner walls hold the names of 558 French generals. It’s also the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and, at ground level, you’ll see the eternal flame which is rekindled at 6.30 p.m. each night.


From the arch
Whilst no trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Arc de Triomphe, in my opinion it’s more interesting for what it is rather than how it looks. The photographic successes I’ve had there have featured things that can be seen from the arch.


I particularly like the small gardens that are dotted about and which take on a new look from a bird’s eye perspective atop the arch. I’m going to persevere with this in future as I feel the right combination of people in the right light in an overhead shot of one of the gardens could be quite special. I’ve just never found that happy co-incidence of circumstances! Devoid of people, the gardens still make a good subject in winter time before foliage has started to appear and soften the graphic outlines of the dark branches.