The Triumphal Arch (Arcul de Triumf) is a 27-meter-high stone arch located on the corner of King Michael I Park in the north of Bucharest. The monument commemorates Romania’s victory in World War I and the coronation of King Ferdinand and his wife Marie. The Triumphal Arch was designed by Petre Antonescu and built between 1921-1922.
Before the current monument was built, there was a wooden triumphal arch that was built in a rush after Romania gained its independence in 1878. The current building also got a metamorphosis after it had decayed. During a renovation in 1935, the original plaster was replaced by the current neoclassical design, which makes it look more similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The Triumphal Arch is a symbol of the city and the stage of the yearly military parade held on December 1st, Romania’s National Day.
