The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel stands at the eastern end of the Louvre's Cour Napoléon, marking what was once the ceremonial entrance to the Tuileries Palace. Napoleon commissioned the monument after his victory at Austerlitz, and it was built between 1806 and 1810 as a tribute to the Grande Armée.
The palace itself disappeared after the Paris Commune in 1871, when the Tuileries was burned and subsequently demolished. The arch survived, leaving an unusual piece of the former palace complex in the middle of what is now one of the busiest parts of Paris.
The name Carrousel has nothing to do with the modern children's ride. It comes from the Grand Carrousel, an elaborate equestrian pageant held here in 1662 by Louis XIV to celebrate the birth of his son, the Dauphin. The spectacle was so memorable that the name remained attached to the area.
If you're visiting in hot weather, seek out some shade. The Carrousel is a large open space, and the tree-lined edges of the gardens can be considerably more comfortable than crossing the open courtyard in full sun.
Part of the “Bon week-end” Series
Every Friday we share a small Paris moment — a starting note for your weekend in the city.
© About Paris — Bon week-end · Back to Home
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