Triumph, at night

Since the 19th century, the walls of the Arc de Triomphe have watched over Parisian nights, serving as a backdrop to events that marked French history. While the monument’s silhouette is familiar under the sun, its nocturnal transformation holds fascinating stories. The Salle des Palmes unveils this little-known facet thanks to rare iconography and exceptional archival documents. In collaboration with the City of Paris, this itinerary illustrates how light sculpts the architecture over time, from the first candles to modern lighting. It’s an opportunity to capture the majesty of the building in a hushed atmosphere, where shadow and brilliance respond to each other to tell the past and present of this national symbol.