Arc de Triomphe
The star monument at the center of Place de l'Étoile.
The story of the place
Napoleon I ordered it in 1806, in the wake of Austerlitz, to celebrate the victories of his armies. The architect Jean-François Chalgrin died in 1811, when the piers barely rose a dozen metres; the Empire fell, the works dragged on, and it was Louis-Philippe who finally inaugurated it in 1836. It stands almost fifty metres tall at the centre of a square from which twelve avenues radiate, laid out under Haussmann. Beneath its vault lies the Unknown Soldier of the Great War, whose flame has been rekindled every evening since 1923.
Getting there
Nearest metro station: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile (1/2/6). The spot is in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Open walking directions.
The light
Excellent golden hour (4/5): sunrise and sunset light is warm and very usable here.
Where to go after the shoot
A few addresses within a short walk, to make the moment last.
Macaron house founded in 1862: pastries and hot chocolate in a plush tea room, open daily from 8am, about a ten-minute walk from the Arc.
Brasserie inside the Publicis Drugstore, open on the Champs-Élysées since 1958, at the foot of the Arc: all-day service from 8am to midnight.
Large brasserie on place des Ternes, with an oyster counter and seafood platters, all-day service from 8am, about ten minutes from the Arc.
Addresses checked in 07/2026. Places change — check opening hours before you head out.
Photo spots nearby
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Arc de Triomphe?
Nearest metro station: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile (1/2/6). The spot is in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
When is the best time to photograph Arc de Triomphe?
Excellent golden hour (4/5): sunrise and sunset light is warm and very usable here. From the Champs-Élysées median, in the evening light.
Can I book a photographer for a shoot at Arc de Triomphe?
Yes. SnapSpot Paris connects you with Paris-based photographers who know the location. A single session can cover several nearby spots — the photographer adapts the route to the light of the day. Esplanade du Trocadéro, Pont Alexandre III, Avenue de Camoëns, Champ-de-Mars / Tour Eiffel.