Arc De Triomphe & Champs-Elysees

We were welcomed by a clear and sunny day for our second and final day in Paris, so after a quick breakfast at the hotel we had a snap on our balcony.

Then we began our day with a visit to the Arc De Triomphe. This is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Emperor Napoleon I at the peak of his reign. It was not completed, however, until 1836 due in part to Napoleon's fall from power. Four years later, his funeral procession passed beneath it on its way to his burial at Les Invalides. The Arc De Triomphe in the middle of one of the craziest roundabouts in the world. There are 12 roads running into this intersection and there are no rules regarding driving on this road at all! In fact, you cannot be insured for any accident that occurs on the roundabout surrounding the Arc! There is a viewing platform on top of this monument... and the only way to get there... the stairs!! There are 284 stairs to the top... and its a circular staircase the whole way! Maybe this is how the French don't get fat... they just climb this staircase daily! Another great view of Paris from a different angle.
Beneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War.

After our morning exercise at the Arc, we ventured down the Champs-Elysees. Undoubtedly the most famous street in Paris, it came into being when the royal gardener planted an arbour of trees byond the border of the Jardin des Tuileries in 1667. First called the Grant Cours (Great Way), it was later renamed the Champs-Elysees. In the mid 19th century the avenue acquired pedestrian paths, fountains, gas lights and cafes and became the fashionable place for socialising and entertainment. It is an obligatory part of any visit to Paris!


At the end of the Champs-Elysees lies the Musee du Louvre. One of the world's most impressive museums, the Louvre contains more than 350,000 priceless objects. The building was previously a palace and is famous for holding several of the world's most prestigious works of art including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Alexandros' Venus de Milo. The equestrian statue of Louis XIV marks the entrance to this arena, with the famous pyramid denoting the entrance to the Louvre itself.

We then headed across the Siene to the Left Bank to explore the Latin Quarter for our final few hours in Paris.