Who wanted the Arc de Triomphe built and why?

The Arc de Triomphe was built between 1806 and 1836 — commissioned by Napoleon, who wanted to honor the victories of the French troops after the Battle of Austerlitz. Reaching almost 30 meters in height, the Arc de Triomphe is encircled by a busy, car-filled roundabout.



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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (French: Tombe du Soldat inconnu) holds an unidentified member of the French armed forces killed during the First World War, to symbolically commemorate all soldiers who have died for France throughout history.

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The eternal flame over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The flame springs from the muzzle of a cannon taken from the enemy, placed in the centre of a bronze shield, from which radiates a frieze of chiselled swords.

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It took 30 years to build the Arc. Napoléon and his army had conquered much of Europe by then and were considered invincible. Napoléon promised his army they would return home through the arches of the Arc. The Arc is 162 feet tall and 150 feet wide.

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