At the heart of Place Charles-de-Gaulle, where twelve avenues converge like the needles of a national compass, lies a nameless hero: the Unknown Soldier. Buried beneath theArc de Triomphe since January 28, 1921, this unidentified body of a poilu fallen during the First World War embodies all those who have never had a grave or a plaque. It symbolizes the immensity of collective sacrifice. No name, no face, just uniform, bravery and eternal silence.
Attend the rekindling ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe
Every evening, under the Arc de Triomphe, you can attend a free, silent ceremony in tribute to the soldiers who died for France. At 6.30pm, the Flame of the Nation, on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is rekindled to burn endlessly. We tell you the story of this special ceremony. [Read more]
Why him, why here? After the Armistice of 1918, France wanted to honor its 1.4 million dead. From among eight anonymous bodies exhumed from various battlefields, a young soldier chose the one that would become"The Unknown Soldier", which was then laid to rest beneath one of the country's most emblematic monuments.
On November 11, 1923, the Flame of Remembrance was lit for the first time. Since then, it has never been extinguished. Every evening at 6.30pm, veterans' associations rekindle this flame, a tireless tribute to those who have fallen for their country. It's a world first that has become a tradition: an eternal light for those whose names were lost in the trenches.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is not just a memorial, it's a living memory, a place of recollection, a symbol of unity.
Location
Arc De Triomphe
Place Charles-de-Gaulle
75008 Paris 8
Access
Charles de Gaule Etoile metro station
Attend the rekindling ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe
