A rare event is about to happen – for three days only, the sun will be setting directly under the arch of the Arc de Triomphe!

Arthur Humeau

You may know of Manhattanhenge, the time in New York when the sun sets in direct alignment with the city’s avenues. Well, we have the same thing in Paris.

On Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 9th May, the setting sun will be directly in line with the Champs Elysées, under the Arc, but you’ll have to be very precisely placed to see it properly, and in a different place depending on the day:

– on 7th May, head for the place de la Concorde and make sure you are directly aligned with the Ar de Triomphe. Sunset is at 9.08pm

– on 8th May, you can choose between the place de la Concorde (9.09pm) or the Champs Élysées Clemenceau junction (9.07pm)

– and on 9th May, go directly to theChamps Élysées Clemenceau junction for 9;09pm
Pascal Diekmann

Don’t look at the sun directly of course!!

And don’t forget to arrive well in advance to nab the best spot. If you are even slightly off axis you’ll only get a partial effect.

And if you fancy visiting the Arc de Triomphe afterwards (or watch the sunset from the top of it), you might like to know that the monument is open until 11pm. Make the most of it!

The Arc de Triomphe

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“J’aime les panoramas” ! Lucien Bramard, alias OSS 117, apprécierait sans nul doute la vue sur #Paris depuis le sommet de l’#ArcDeTriomphe ?! #CityMW #MuseumWeek
cc @leCMN pic.twitter.com/9tgaiXRMIV

— Arc de triomphe (@ArcDeTriomphe) 24 avril 2018