Today is Veteran’s Day, the day World War I ended almost one hundred years ago. One place that honors those who fought in this war and other battles is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This arch rises above the middle of the city and pays tribute to the brave souls who went to battle for their country.
Originally designed by Napoleon, the arch was finished after his death. It is 164 feet high. Today the names of more than 500 generals and the places they fought line the tall columns.
At the end of World War I, on November 11, 1918, an “unknown soldier” from the Verdun battlefield was carried to the arch. This soldier rests today beneath an eternal flame lit in a ceremony in 1923. The flame has not gone out since.
It’s fitting that you can climb the interior steps and emerge on top of the arch to view the city. Here is the Champs Elysees, the heart of the city, thriving after coming through wars and occupation. From the Arc you can view other landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower.
The Arc de Triomphe was one of the structures of this elegant city that was fit with explosives during WWII. The order to blow it up was disobeyed. The Arc remains as a symbol of freedom. Every day, people stand in its shadows and say a silent prayer of thanks to those named and unnamed soldiers who gave so much.
17 Comments
Beautiful photographs!
Wow! So incredibly beautiful. Oh, how I want to see it in real life!
Well I learned a bunch this morning!
Sharon, What a lovely tribute to the soldiers who fight the battles that sustain our freedom. I’ve never traveled to France, and so I really enjoyed the beautiful views shared in your pictures. You make an excellent tour guide!
I am reminded of those who fought for freedom when I sit down with my big extended family for Thanksgiving dinner and everyone shares stories, opinions, beliefs and enjoys the bounty of our harvest – none of which would be possible without the freedom won by the sacrifices of others.
What a wonderful post! I learned about this in French class. What a beautiful structure with great symbolism.
oh my, i bet looking up takes your breathe away! those buildings are works of art! what a wonderful post for Veteran’s Day! The photographs are beautiful! I love the eternal flame too.
Beautiful photographs. I am reminded of how we need to fight for our freedoms today especially with the wars on words and ideas.
Beautiful! I love the images looking up into the arches – gorgeous!
A wonderful Veteran’s Day tribute and beautiful pictures to go with it. I’m looking forward to seeing Paris come summer!
thank you for sharing such a wonderful tribute to those who fought and died for the freedoms we are blessed with .. it’s good to be reminded. so much we take for granted! your images are amazing, sharon! such exquisite detail!
Paris is such a beautiful city. We never msde it to the top of the arch; wish we hsd gone up… Next time.
it certainly is a magnificent monument in a magnificent city, and the views from the top are wonderful. Thank goodness someone disobeyed the order to blow up the magnificent buildings of Paris. We went to the Australian War Museum in Canberra a couple of years ago. It was humbling to see the names of all the Australians that have died for freedom in battlefields across the oceans. We will remember them.
Paris – the beautiful French capitol you can’t travel to without having all the well-known clichés in your mind. I think that the best markted city in whole Europe, even in the whole world – and this since centuries
And: it worked. You travelled to Paris to find all the pictures you had in mind verified, didn’t you??? 😉
During your next journey to Paris make a short trip to Berlin, it’s refreshingly different!
http://you-wee-because.blogspot.de/2012/04/berlin-street-art.html
http://you-wee-because.blogspot.de/2012/05/holocaust-memorial-in-berlin.html
What a timely post Sharon! … I was headed to the Arc de Triomphe yesterday with my family… but for Armistice holiday, it was closed in the morning. Love all the perspectives you shot, makes me impatient to head there the next chance I get with my boys. Thank you of the history lesson too, it will help during our visit. And finally thank you for your wonderful shot from above. I’ve been wondering where that perfect shot of the Eiffel Tower everyone takes was from 🙂
Love your beautiful images so lovely to look at them without the constant noise of the traffic ! Truly an iconic symbol of freedom like our cenotaph in London…
A beautiful serie, great photowork!
What a beautiful view and an amazing, history filled place to spend Remembrance Day. Beautiful photos.