The Arcul de Triumf ( Romanian; "Triumphal Arch") is a

triumphal arch A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, cro ...

located in the northern part of

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

, Romania, on the Kiseleff Road. The first, wooden, triumphal arch was built hurriedly, after

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

gained its independence (1878), so that the victorious troops could march under it. Another arch with concrete skeleton and plaster exterior of elaborate sculptures and decoration designed by

Petre Antonescu Petre Antonescu (June 29, 1873 - April 22, 1965) was a Romanian architect. Over the course of a career that spanned the first half of the 20th century, he established himself as a leader in the field within his country, helping define a national ...

was built on the same site after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in 1922. The arch exterior, which had seriously decayed, was replaced in 1935 by the current much more sober Neoclassical design, more closely modelled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The new arch, also designed by

and executed in stone, was inaugurated on 1 December 1936. The arch has a height of 27 metres. It has as its foundation a 25 x 11.50 metres rectangle. The sculptures with which the facades are decorated were created by famous Romanian sculptors such as Ion Jalea and

Dimitrie Paciurea Dimitrie Paciurea (; 2 November (1873 or 1875) – 14 July 1932) was a Romanian sculptor. His representational and symbolic style contrasts strongly to the more abstract style of his contemporary and co-national Constantin Brâncuși. Born i ...

. Presently, military parades are held beneath the arch each 1 December, with the occasion of Romania's national holiday.

Elisabeta Palace Elisabeta Palace () is a palace on Kiseleff Road in Bucharest, Romania. Built in 1936, it is the official residence in Romania of Margareta of Romania, her husband Prince Radu, and her sister Princess Maria. The Palace was designed in 1930 b ...

, the current residence of the

Romanian Royal Family The Romanian royal family ( ro, Familia regală a României) was the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Romania, a constitutional monarchy in Central-Eastern Europe. The kingdom existed from 1881, when Carol I of Romania was proclaimed king, until ...

, is located near the Arch of Triumph, in Herăstrău Park.

Gallery

File:Franz Mandy - Intoarcerea victorioasa in Bucuresti a armatei romane de pe frontul din Bulgaria.jpg, Arcul de Triumf in 1878 File:Nicolae Ionescu - Pretzel vendors in uniform in front of the Triumph Arch.jpg, Vendors near Arcul de Triumf, late 1930s File:Crown lateral Arch of Triumph Bucharest.jpg, The symbol of the Royal Crown (the Romanian "Steel Crown"), depicted on the Eastern façade

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arcul De Triumf Terminating vistas Triumphal arches in Romania Monuments and memorials in Bucharest World War I memorials in Romania Historic monuments in Bucharest Buildings and structures completed in 1936 1936 sculptures Greater Romania

Gallery

See also

References