Place Charles de Gaulle

The Place Charles de Gaulle (French: [plas ʃaʁl də ɡol]), historically known as the Place de l'Étoile (French: [plas də letwal]), is a large road junction in Paris, France, the meeting point of twelve straight avenues (hence its historic name, which translates as "Square of the Star") including the Champs-Élysées.

It was originally commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I during the First French Empire and inaugurated three decades later by King Louis Philippe I under the July Monarchy.

The avenues radiating from the Place de l'Étoile were created during the Second French Empire of Emperor Napoleon III as part of Haussmann's renovation of Paris.

The Place Charles de Gaulle has a diameter of 241 metres (791 ft), giving it an area of approximately 4.55 hectares (11.2 acres).

At the centre of the square stands the Arc de Triomphe, which is accessible via a pedestrian underpass, to avoid the confluence of vehicular traffic from the juncture of twelve radiating avenues.

The Barrière de l'Étoile buildings in front of a wooden mock-up of the Arc de Triomphe in 1810.
The Place de l'Étoile, c. 1920 .
Twelve avenues radiate from the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named the Place de l'Étoile, forming a star with the Arc de Triomphe at its centre.
The Place de l'Étoile was renamed the Place Charles de Gaulle in 1970.
Six axes are formed by the twelve avenues radiating from the Place Charles de Gaulle. The Axe historique extends from the Avenue des Champs-Élysées (at the bottom of the image) to the Avenue de la Grande Armée (at the top).