Level 1: Marianne and the Yellow Vest Protests

You have reached the first level above the arch. The narrow staircase was tough going, but the terrace is still to come. Before heading up, we will look at the statue of Marianne here and the history of the Arc on the next floor.

At the center of this floor stands an enlarged sculpture of Marianne's head, modeled on the figure of the goddess of war you saw outside in "The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792." Marianne stands for a great deal to the French: liberty, equality and fraternity, a symbol of common women's names, and a symbol of the French Revolution.

Though now restored, this head was damaged in March 2018 by Yellow Vest protesters opposing the Macron government's fuel tax hike. The yellow safety vest is standard equipment in French vehicles, and many of the protesters were reportedly transport workers angry about the tax. The protests turned so violent that cultural heritage was damaged, and the Champs-Élysées descended into chaos with arson and looting. Beyond the sculpture, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was damaged, graffiti was sprayed on the walls, and the gift shop inside was looted. France is the land of revolution, and its protests are passionate and rough, too.

When you have had a look around and visited the restrooms, head to the staircase to the second level, directly opposite Marianne.