Arc de Triomphe elevator

I understand that the elevator in the Arc de Triomphe is restricted for the %26#39;infirmed.%26#39; My wife and I are in are late 50s, and although we look healthy our knees are in bad shape. Do we just boldly walk in or do we need a note for our doctor (ha)?

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They restrict the use of the one elevator at Arc de Truimph to insure that this old elevator is available for those who genuinely NEED it. If you beleive that the condition of your knees meet this criteria, then simply ask to use the elevator. Doctor%26#39;s notes are not necessary. But if your only reason is that you%26#39;ve got 50 year old knees and you don%26#39;t feel like climbing stairs, then skip the top of the Arc de Triumph.

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Thanks for the tip. It sounds like you are saying that unless we are in a wheel chair or on crutches we will get an ATTITUDE from the attendant. So, is Arc de Trimphe worth a visit if we don%26#39;t go to the top. I can%26#39;t tell from the its web site if there is a museum shop or small museum on the street level.

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I don%26#39;t think that you%26#39;ll be missing much if you skip the top of the arc de triomphe. But if you want to go, don%26#39;t worry about attitude, you could get plenty of that special Parisien je ne sais quoi just for being.

Do like a Parisian would and just insist.

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My wife and I are in our 50s and suffer from the same ailments as you. We were just there less than a month ago and had no problem using the elevator. There was no %26quot;attitude%26quot; problem. In fact the elevator operator was very friendly. So go for it.

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There should be no problem taking the elevator. They tried to get us to take it as we had a young child but he wanted to walk and they were a bit surprised. We saw lots of folks taking the elevator. It is a nice view from the top looking out at the etoile, especially if it%26#39;s night and the Eiffel tower is lit up.

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Great, thanks all.

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My last visit to Paris, we didn%26#39;t go to the top of the Arc....and I regretted it. I won%26#39;t make that mistake this time!

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By all means try to get to the top of the Arc--even if you have to get a bit pushy! Its a magnificent view of some of the best parts of Paris. And compared to the Eiffel, since it%26#39;s not as high, you are able to see a lot more detail of the surrounding streets and buildings. Being able to see the view from the ferris wheel in tuilleries, up the the Champs Elysees and out to Defense should not be missed, in my opinion. On the floor near the top, there%26#39;s a little museum on the arc%26#39;s history and the various events and visits of royalty to the Arc over the centuries. Its very interesting.

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somerset: I think the Ferris Wheel in the Tuileries has been dismantled and moved.... I think I saw that it was moved up around the %26quot;Parc de la Villette%26quot; area. What a shame if it isn%26#39;t still there.... I%26#39;m sure the views would have been gorgeous.