Arcul de Triumf (Arch of Triumph)

The Arcul de Triumf, or Arch of Triumph, stands at the northern end of Kiseleff Road (Soseaua Kiseleff) in Sector 1 of Bucharest, Romania, in the square that bears its name. The first arch here was a temporary wooden structure erected in 1878 to celebrate Romania's independence from the Ottoman Empire and the troops returning from the 1877-1878 war. A second wooden arch followed in 1918 to greet the army after the First World War and the union of Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovina with the Kingdom of Romania. The present stone arch was designed by the architect Petre Antonescu and built between 1935 and 1936, inaugurated on 1 December 1936 under King Carol II. It is about 27 metres high and clad in Deva granite. Sculptors who contributed include Ion Jalea and Dimitrie Paciurea, and the arch is decorated with sculptural groups and medallions evoking Romanian soldiers and key moments such as the Great Union. An inscription records the dates of 1877, 1878, 1916 and 1918. The upper level, reachable by internal stairs, offers a viewing terrace over the Kiseleff boulevard and the surrounding Herastrau Park area, and the arch is used each year for the military parade on 1 December, Romania's National Day. The monument suffered from weathering and traffic vibrations and was restored in the early 21st century, including a larger renovation completed in the 2010s. Architecturally the arch borrows from the Parisian Arc de Triomphe but uses Romanian motifs and a lower, simpler profile. It sits on a busy traffic island, so the monument is best seen by crossing at the pedestrian crossings and viewing it from the park side. Access to the interior is allowed only on certain days, so visitors should check locally before planning an ascent.