A = Arc de Triomphe - French Faves, A to Z Blog Challenge 2015

To feel its immensity, you must stand beneath it.

The Arc de Triomphe, Paris, by DG Hudson

A = Arc de Triomphe de L'Étoile
Arch of Triumph of the Star

The Arc is at the center of a dodecagonal configuration of twelve radiating avenues on the Right Bank of the Seine River.  It is a military monument honouring all the French victories and those generals who fought and died for France in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. At the foot of the monument beneath the arch, lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI.

The viewing level at top is a great viewpoint for aerial photography, as seen in the image below. The height allows you to see the layout of the streets while still retaining enough detail of the buildings.




View from the Arc de Triomphe, by DG Hudson

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During special celebrations, the French flag flutters beneath the arch. . .

French Flag in the Arc de Triomphe, by Green Eye (prop DGH)

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The Arc de Triomphe is the linchpin of the Axe Historique, a sequence of monuments and thoroughfares which form a line from the Louvre courtyard to the Grande Arche de la Défense. Of the four sculpted groups in the supporting legs of the Arc de Triomphe, the following is my favorite:

The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, aka La Marseillaise, sculpted by François Rude. 

"The Departure of the volunteers of 1792" (a.k.a. La Marseillaise), sculpture by François Rude, WC*

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Were you aware of any of these facts about the Arc de Triomphe? Did you know the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI was beneath the monument?

Please leave a comment to let me know you stopped by, and if you are part of the A to Z Challenge. I'll be sure to check your blog, and reciprocate. If you're not in the challenge, thanks for stopping by to visit! I try to reply to all comments.

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The A to Z Blog Challenge is brainchild of Lee, at Tossing It Out.  Please visit the A to Z blog site to find out more information and the participant list.  There are also Twitter and Facebook presences if you want to check those!

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References:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2015.html A to Z Signup list

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe Wiki

*Image Credit: La Marseillaise

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