Place Charles de Gaulle
Square Large Paris roundabout with Arc de Triomphe
At the centre of a twelve‑avenue junction, Place Charles de Gaulle holds the Arc de Triomphe and the western end of the Champs‑Élysées. Tourists climb the monument, photograph the radiating boulevards and scan Paris from the roof terrace.
Place Charles de Gaulle is the large Parisian plaza at the western end of the Champs-Élysées that surrounds the Arc de Triomphe and serves as the junction for twelve radiating avenues. Formerly called the Place de l’Étoile, the plaza was renamed in honour of Charles de Gaulle.
The square’s layout is a large circular roundabout with twelve avenues meeting at a central point where the Arc de Triomphe stands. Traffic is heavy and continuous around the roundabout, so visitors use subterranean passages to reach the monument at the centre.
The site dates to the Haussmann-era remaking of Paris and remains one of the city’s principal urban hubs, marking the western terminus of the historical Champs-Élysées axis.
It is located on the boundary of Paris’s 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements, roughly 2 kilometres west of central Paris landmarks such as the Louvre and within the city’s western ceremonial axis.
- Pedestrian access restriction: Pedestrians must use underground walkways to reach the Arc de Triomphe at the square's centre as direct crossing of the roundabout is forbidden.
How to Get to Place Charles de Gaulle #
Place Charles de Gaulle (Arc de Triomphe/Étoile) is served directly by the Charles de Gaulle-Étoile station (Métro lines 1, 2, 6 and RER A). Use the underground pedestrian passages from the station to reach the arch; walking from the exits to the monument is typically 3-10 minutes. The square sits at the western end of the Champs-Élysées in central Paris.
Tips for Visiting Place Charles de Gaulle #
- Use the pedestrian underpasses to reach the Arc de Triomphe - do not attempt to cross the busy Place Charles de Gaulle roundabout on foot; underpasses lead directly to the monument.
- Arrive at opening time or later in the evening to avoid the largest tourist crowds and to get clearer photographs of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the city axis from the top.
- Buy tickets on-site or online and climb to the viewing platform for the full axis view (Champs-Élysées to La Défense); many visitors don't take the short walk up for the panorama.
- For photos of the full circle with minimal cars, head to a nearby rooftop (e.g., from a café on the Champs-Élysées) at dusk when the traffic light streaks and monument lighting combine well.
Best Time to Visit Place Charles de Gaulle #
Best in spring or early autumn for comfortable weather and fewer crowds around the Arc de Triomphe and surrounding avenues.
Weather & Climate near Place Charles de Gaulle #
Place Charles de Gaulle's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (657 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 64 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
