The Triumphal Arch

Arcul de Triumf is a triumphal arch located in the northern part of Bucharest, on the Kiseleff Road. The Triumphal Arch in Bucharest is a little smaller than the one in Paris, but it is also located at the intersection of some boulevards.


The first, wooden, triumphal arch was built hurriedly, after Romania gained its independence (1878), so that the victorious troops could march under it. Another temporary arch was built on the same site, in 1922, after World War I, which was demolished in 1935 to make way for the current triumphal arch, which was inaugurated in September 1936.


The current arch has a height of 27 meters and was built after the plans of the great architect Petre Antonescu. It has as foundation a 25 x 11.50 meters rectangle and was built in granite and concrete, and has a staircase that allows visitors to climb to the terrace on the top of the monument. The sculptures with which the facades are decorated were created by famous Romanian sculptors such as Ion Jalea, Corneliu Medrea, Dimitrie Paciurea, Constantin Baraschi, Costin Petrescu.