World’s Greatest Triumphal Arches

Popularized by the Ancient Romans, Triumphal Arches are important monuments that can be found across the globe. Triumphal Arches all follow the same form and share similar architectural elements and detailing. These structures were particularly popular in the 19th century and were often built to commemorate important people and military victories. The list below will highlight 20 of The World’s Greatest Triumphal Arches and show how these monuments are still replicated in the modern age. 

Origins of the Triumphal Arch

Triumphal Arches Originated with the Ancient Romans. Many Roman Emperors would commission these monuments to commemorate their successes. Several famous arches can be found in the Roman Forum, and there were dozens of others built throughout the empire. 

• (left) The Arch of Constantine, which stands not far from the Colosseum in central Rome.
• (right) The Arch of Trajan in Benevento. Built by Trajan to commemorate his many military accomplishments.

Why Did People Build Triumphal Arches?

Triumphal Arches were made for a variety of reasons, but the big idea was always to commemorate a certain victory or success. For instance, Soldiers & Sailors Arch in Brooklyn NYC was constructed to commemorate several different branches of the US Military for their service in the American Civil War.

What are the World’s Greatest Triumphal Arches?

Below is a list of some of the World’s Greatest examples of Triumphal Arches – the order of the list is based on size, splendor, and historical significance. 

1. Arc de Triomphe –  Paris, France

The world’s most famous Triumphal Arch is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was constructed from 1806 until 1836 and was built to commemorate all those who died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars that followed. The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most visited sites in Paris, and it sits on a long Axial Boulevard that connects with other historic buildings throughout the city. This Boulevard is called the Champs-Élysées, and it’s one of the most well-known streets in the world.

The Arc de Triomphe is truly massive, measuring 164 feet (50 m) high and 148 feet (45 m) wide. The central opening is so large that a daredevil aviator named Charles Godefroy was able to fly a plane through it in 1919. The Arc de Triomphe contains all of the typical elements of Triumphal Arches. It has many Classical Details, such as cornices, friezes, coffered ceilings, and marble statues.

2. Cinquantenaire Arch  –  Brussels, Belgium

The Cinquantenaire Arch is the centerpiece of Brussels’s Cinquantenaire Park. The entire complex was constructed in the late 19th century in preparation for the Cinquantenaire, an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Belgian Independence Movement. The event was a type of World’s Fair, and it was orchestrated by King Leopold II. Leopold subsequently created many monuments in and around the park in an effort to turn Brussels into an impressive world capital.

The Cinquantenaire Arch contains all of the typical elements shared by the Triumphal Arches of the 19th Century. It has numerous details from Classical Architecture, including round arches, Ionic Columns, coffered ceilings, and bronze-cast statues. The symmetrical triple-arch design was common in both modern and Ancient Triumphal Arches, and this same format is shared by several of the monuments on this list. The Cinquenetaire Arch also contains a strong influence from the Beaux Arts Style, which was popular in Europe throughout the late 1800s.

3. Monumento a la Revolución – Mexico City, Mexico

The Monumento a la Revolución is the World’s Largest Triumphal Arch. It commemorates the Mexican Revolution, which took place between 1910 & 1920. Originally, the structure for the arch was intended to be the central dome of the Palacio Legislativo Federal. The building was commissioned by the dictator Porfirio Díaz shortly before he was deposed in the revolution. The building’s partially completed structure was then transformed into a commemorative monument. To help break away from the previous design, several Art Deco-style sculptures were added.

4. India Gate – New Delhi, India

The India Gate is a massive Triumphal Arch located within the capital of India, New Delhi. It’s an outstanding example of British Colonial Architecture. It was commissioned in 1921 to commemorate the lives of all Indian Soldiers who died in the service of the British Empire. The India Gate replicates many Ancient Roman Triumphal Arches, however, the design also incorporates a few elements from traditional Indian Architecture.

5. Rua Augusta Arch – Lisbon, Portugal

The Rua Augusta Arch is a large monument located at the termination of Augusta Street in central Lisbon. The arch is a focal point of the nearby Commercial Square and is one of Lisbon’s most notable landmarks. The arch was constructed as part of the rebuilding after the devastation of the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. This disaster leveled most of the city’s historic center, which was then rebuilt in a gridded street plan. The arch contains statues of several notable Portuguese figures, including Vasco da Gama and the 1st Maroques du Pombal.

6. Arch of Triumph – Pyongyang, North Korea

The Arch of Triumph is one of the most notable monuments in all of North Korea. It is located in Pyongyang, the nation’s capital, and it was completed in 1982. The arch commemorates the Korean struggle against the Japanese that occurred during the decades before Japan’s defeat in WWII. Just like the India Gate in New Delhi, the Arch of Pyongyang takes Western iconography and blends it with elements from local Korean Architecture. 

7. Soldiers and Sailors Arch – Brooklyn, NYC, USA

Soldiers & Sailors Arch is one of several Triumphal Arches in New York City. The arch is located in Brooklyn, one of the city’s five boroughs. As its name implies, it commemorates several branches of the US Military, including the Army & Navy, for their sacrifices during the American Civil War. Soldiers & Sailors Arch was completed in 1892 and contains statues of several notable American figures, such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulyssys S. Grant.

8. Porta Sempione – Milan, Italy

The Porta Sempione is a 19th century Triumphal Arch located in Milan. It was constructed over several decades in the early 1800s, and it corresponds to what was once a gateway through Milan’s Medieval Walls. The Porta Sempione is a very typical Triumphal Arch. It is a near-exact replica of other arches from the Roman Age, such as the Arch of Constantine in Rome. The Porta Sempione is located at the edge of a large park surrounding one of Milan’s many great Renaissance buildings, Castello Sforzesco.

9. Arc de Triomf – Barcelona, Spain

The Arc de Triomf is a large triumphal arch that was constructed for the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. It was known as the “gateway” of the event, and it sits at the edge of Barcelona’s modern-day Parc de la Ciutadella. The Arc de Triomf is one of the more unique arches on this list. It is constructed primarily from red brick masonry, and it blends elements from classicism with aspects of Mudejar and Modernisme Architecture. 

10. Siegestor – Munich, Bavaria, Germany

The Siegestor is a Triumphal Arch and one of the greatest examples of Neoclassical Architecture in Munich. It was completed in 1852 to commemorate the Bavarian Army for all of its successes. The Siegestor was designed in the same manner as the Triumphal Arches of the Ancient Romans. It has three round arches, each separated by Corinthian Columns. The top of the arch is marked by a Bronze Statue symbolizing Bavaria.

11. Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel – Paris, France

Paris is one of the world’s greatest cities for studying Architectural History and there are multiple Triumphal Arches throughout the city. In addition to the larger Arc de Triomphe, there is also a smaller version known as the “Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.” This arch was completed in 1808 and is located within the Place du Carrousel. It has a very similar form to the Ancient Roman Arch of Constantine. Thanks to its proximity to the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is a popular site that sees thousands of visitors each year.

12. Narva Triumphal Arch – St. Petersburg, Russia

Even though Russia was never part of the Roman Empire, Russian Architecture is still heavily influenced by the Classical Architecture of the Greeks and Romans. There are many triumphal arches within Russia, one of the most notable examples being the Narva Arch in St. Petersburg. The Narva Arch is unique because it is made of stone veneered with copper plates. The copper-clad exterior has since oxidized, giving the Narva Arch its intense green color. 

13. Puerta de Alcalá – Madrid, Spain

The Puerta de Alcalá is a Triumphal Arch that was completed in 1778. It’s one of the oldest Triumphal Arches on this list, and it incorporates a blend of Neoclassical and Baroque details. The arch straddles Calle de Alcalá, a main road that connects with other important areas in Madrid, such as the Puerta del Sol. The Puerta de Alcalá corresponds to what was once an entrance to Madrid’s 16th-century city walls.

14. Wellington Arch – London, England, UK

The Wellington Arch is a popular monument located in London’s Hyde Park Corner. The arch is meant to commemorate the United Kingdom’s successes in the Napoleonic Wars. During the 19th century, an equestrian statue of Arthur Wellesley the 1st Duke of Wellington, sat atop the monument. He was a formidable general who won a great victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Although the statue of Wellington was eventually replaced, many people still refer to this as the Wellington Arch.

15. Brandenburg Gate – Potsdam, Germany

The Brandenburg Gate is a Triumphal Arch located in Potsdam, Germany. It was completed in 1771 and designed in the Neoclassical Style. The exterior has several sculptural elements with a strong Baroque influence. The gate has a very similar design to the Arch of Constantine, one of the most influential arches from the Roman Period. The arch corresponds to a former gate in the Medieval Walls of Potsdam, which led to the city of Brandenburg.

(Not to be confused with the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, which is not on this list since it’s technically not an arch) 

16. Washington Square Park Arch – Manhattan, NYC, USA

The Washington Square Park Arch is one of Several Triumphal Arches in New York City. It sits within Washington Square Park, a popular open space within the densely packed island of Manhattan. The Arch embodies all of the ideologies of Neoclassical Architecture. It has a white-washed color scheme and has many classical design elements like cornices, friezes, and coffered ceilings. The Washington Square Park Arch was designed by Stanford White. He was a member of one of the most popular design firms of the late 19th century, McKim, Mead & White.

17. Triumphal Arch of Moscow – Moscow, Russia

Just like the one in St. Petersburg, the Triumphal Arch of Moscow shows the strong connection that the Russian Tsars had with the Roman Empire. The arch was constructed in the 1830s and commissioned by the Russian Tsar Alexander I. The Arch of Moscow commemorates the victory over Napolean after his failed Invasion of Russia in 1812. The arch sits along Kutuzovsky Avenue, close to the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill.

18. Arcul de Triumf – Bucharest, Romania

The Arcul de Triumf is one of the most recognizable monuments in the Romanian Capital, Bucharest. The arch was completed in 1922 and was built to commemorate the Romanians who fought in WWI. The arch contains many typical Neoclassical Elements, all derived from earlier works of Greek & Roman Architecture. The rounded archways, friezes, and coffered ceilings are all great examples of this.

19. Bridge of Rememberance – Chrischurch, New Zealand

The Bridge of Rememberance is a Triumphal Arch located in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was completed in 1922 and is dedicated to those who died fighting in WWI. The monument is designed in the Art Deco Style, which was incredibly popular during the 1920s. The design of the Bridge of Rememberance is also very influenced by Western European culture, which is common throughout the former lands of the British Empire.

20. Roosevelt Arch – Gardiner, Montana, USA

The Roosevelt Arch is another great example of an American Triumphal Arch. It sits not in a city but rather in the open wilderness of the American West. The Roosevelt Arch marks a notable threshold into Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is one of the many great US National Parks, and it’s home to rugged landscapes and numerous geysers and hot springs. The park has thousands of visitors each year, and many of them pass directly beneath the Roosevelt Arch. 

Triumphal Arches Within Buildings

• (left) A Triumphal Arch within the facade of the General Staff Building in St. Petersburg, Russia
• (right) The Triumphal Arch within the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy.

Legacy of the Triumphal Arch

There are countless examples of Triumphal Arches throughout the world. These monuments have existed since the days of the Ancient Romans, and today, triumphal arches are still an important part of the cities we live in. Triumphal Arches are made to commemorate important people, places, and historic events, and they continue to be one of the world’s most replicated monuments.

Like Architecture of Cities? Sign up for our mailing list to get updates on our latest articles and other information related to Architectural History.