One of the world’s most famous triumphal arches – the Arc de Triomphe in Paris – was commissioned in 1806 to celebrate France’s victories during the Napoleonic Wars. So when Russia defeated Napoleon’s Grande Armée invasion during the Patriotic War of 1812, they built the Narva Triumphal Arch in 1814 and a permanent version twenty years later. The Narva Triumphal Gate features sculptures of angels and soldiers holding laurel wreaths. On top is a six-horse quadriga (chariot) driven by Victoria, the winged Roman goddess of victory.
