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Place Charles de Gaulle

plaza, Paris, France
Also known as: Place de l’Étoile

Quick Summary

The Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly known as Place de l'Étoile, is a large circular plaza in Paris, France, from which twelve grand avenues radiate, forming a star shape. It is most famous for being the location of the Arc de Triomphe, a massive triumphal arch commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 to celebrate French military victories. The arch, designed by Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin, stands 164 feet high and 148 feet wide. Beneath the arch lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with an eternal flame rekindled nightly. The plaza is a significant landmark and a symbol of French national identity.123

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