Across the world, great arches have been raised to mark a victory, honour the fallen or simply welcome people into a city. Some are ancient, some modern, but each has become a landmark in its own right. Here are ten of the most famous man-made arches in the world.
1. Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France
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One of the most famous monuments in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe stands at the western end of the Champs-Elysees and honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The names of French victories and generals are inscribed on its surfaces, and beneath it lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. Napoleon ordered its construction in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz; work was finished in 1836. The arch is 50 m (164 ft) tall and has a viewing platform at the top.
2. Gateway Arch, St. Louis, United States
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Clad in stainless steel and rising 630 ft (192 m), the Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the United States and the tallest arch in the world. Built between 1963 and 1965 to the design of architect Eero Saarinen, it commemorates the westward expansion of the United States. A unique tram runs inside each leg, carrying visitors up to an observation deck with views stretching for miles across the city and the Mississippi.
3. Rua Augusta Arch, Lisbon, Portugal
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This grand arch and visitor attraction in Lisbon was built to mark the rebuilding of the city after the catastrophic 1755 earthquake. Begun in 1755 and completed only in 1873, it is decorated with statues of historical figures and has a terrace at the top with a panoramic view over the city.
4. Arch of the Cinquantenaire, Brussels, Belgium
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This arch was planned for the 1880 world exhibition to mark 50 years of Belgian independence, but it was not finished in time. Construction dragged on for another 25 years and was finally completed in 1905, in time for the 75th anniversary. It is crowned by a bronze quadriga representing Brabant raising the national flag.
5. Arc de Triomf, Barcelona, Spain
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Built as the main gateway to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair, the Arc de Triomf was designed by Josep Vilaseca in a Moorish-revival style and built largely of red brick. A stone frieze across the front reads Barcelona rep les nacions, Catalan for Barcelona welcomes the nations.
6. Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos
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Also called the Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, Patuxai is a war monument honouring those who fought for the independence of Laos from France. Built from 1957 onward, it blends a triumphal-arch form with Laotian design, including naga statues, lotus motifs and stupa-like towers. A museum and a viewing gallery inside look out over Vientiane.
7. Arch of Constantine, Rome, Italy
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Standing between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill, this is the largest and latest of the surviving triumphal arches in Rome. It was built to commemorate the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, and was inaugurated in 315.
8. India Gate, New Delhi, India
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The India Gate is a national war memorial honouring some 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War, with more than 13,000 names inscribed on its surfaces. Begun in 1921 and inaugurated in 1931, it later became the site of the Amar Jawan Jyoti, an eternal flame that burned for 50 years until it was merged with the nearby National War Memorial flame in 2022.
9. Arch of Triumph, Pyongyang, North Korea
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At 60 m (197 ft) high and 50 m (164 ft) wide, this is the tallest triumphal arch in the world, taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was built in 1982 to commemorate Korean resistance to Japan between 1925 and 1945, and to honour Kim Il-sung, and was unveiled on his 70th birthday.
10. Siegestor (Victory Gate), Munich, Germany
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Completed in 1852 under King Ludwig I, the Siegestor was originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army and is topped by a quadriga of lions. After the Second World War it was rededicated as a monument to peace. It stands 21 m high, 24 m wide and 12 m deep.
Other notable arches include the Roosevelt Arch at the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Like arches? See the most beautiful natural arches in the world.
If natural landscapes interest you, explore the most breathtaking canyons, the most beautiful sand dunes, and the deepest lakes in the world.
