Arch De Triomphe

This can also be called ‘A Weekend to Remember –IV’. which is how I started off the series. Re-looking at the content again I now have changed my mind and to with the idea of place of visit. I will be redoing the others shortly too. I have been to this place thrice so far with different people and different timings and every single time it has amazed me.

In Paris, government has certain restrictions on the height of the buildings. By doing so, on some of the buildings you have the fantastic view of the whole city. One such building is Arch De Triumphe and others include Eiffel Towers (yeah!), Sacre Coure Church, Notre Dame Towers, Montparnasse Towers (a recent edition) and at some buildings at La Defense.

This place is kind of strategically located in the center and offers  a complete 360 degree view of Paris. At this place around 12 roads converge but none of these roads take you to the tower. For getting in you need to use underground tunnel or a Metro which again leads you to the entrance of this tower. More about that later. Its kind of funny story. It is just mind-blowing just to be there and seeing it. I especially loved it when I went first time with my roommate. That was the time when it was slightly raining, some fog around, and city was just lit up. Its absolutely amazing.

This monument has been built to commemorate the dead soldiers who valiantly have given their lives for the country. India Gate at New Delhi slightly resembles the Arch De Triomphe.

Fact – I have been wrongly quoting that the inspiration for India Gate has come from French architecture and that it was done by the same person. Searching through the web I see no connection. Nikmo, Devarsh, if you are seeing both are not the same guys. I have actually been misled by my mom, who had originally told me on the phone that both have been inspired by the same and I didn’t cross check. So here I am rectifying it.

It has 284 steps to climb in a narrow pathway up to the top in a spiraling fashion. I got claustrophobic the first time and second time it was good. I was quick and energetic. Once you get to the top, you have one more layer of steps to reach the open space from a huge hallway. Here, one can see huge wreaths pasted on one wall along with statue of a soldier.

Mini-mini and Mini Arch De Triomphe

Going further there are two hand sized mini replicas on a stand of about 2 feet height of Arch De Triomphe on a circular disc which can be moved around by hand which in turn moves another larger replica made of paper like material about the height of the stand right in front of the smaller one. On this second one a steady narrow beam of light is shone on to it and those segments are highlighted by this light go on to be proejcted on the large screen projector hanging on the wall. This gives you the ability to see every part of the Arch De Triomphe exterior in more granular detail. Absolutely fantastic. So, we finally climbed the top and nothing much to say other than being fully left dazed and speechless with the grand view.

Here are some of the pics, for now of this monument, will be updated with all later on-

		Arch De Triomphe VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL