We went to the Arc de Triomphe at the Place Charles de Gaulle (which used to be the Place de l'Etoile, named for the star configuration of the many avenues that converge at this traffic circle or roundabout). Napoleon ordered it constructed in the tradition of the Roman Emperors to celebrate his many victories. The many sculptures depict Napoleon in key battles.
The Arch was not finished, however, until after Napoleon had been deposed. It was dedicated to the glory of France, and houses France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, directly beneath the arch.
There is no elevator, but we decided to climb up the stairs. I estimated that it was about four stories.
Don figured my estimate was a bit short . . . he counted altogether 292 steps from the street to the top. (At 13 steps per average level, that's more like 23 stories!)
The staircase winds like a seashell all the way up. After you get above the archway there are three floors.
As you can see, we did make it up to the top.
It was a beautiful day with a lovely view of Paris, with the Eiffel
Tower in the distance on one side, and the Louvre on the other side
at the far end of the Champs Elysées, the grand boulevard of
Paris.
