The Luxor obelisk at a glance
The Luxor obelisk is really a pair. Ramses II had two obelisks set up in front of the pylon of Luxor Temple. One of them stayed where it was. The other travelled to France and was raised on the Place de la Concorde in Paris in 1836. In Paris the transported one is called the western obelisk.
If you are in Luxor, the remaining obelisk is the first thing you see beside the pylon. See Luxor Temple tickets for the current prices. The builder of the front of the temple is covered on our page about Ramses II at Luxor Temple.
Place de la Concorde obelisk: size and weight
Rounded figures for the pair.
The obelisks of the pair are about 22 to 25 m high. The monolith in Paris weighs around 220 to 230 tonnes, and its base adds a further 240 t. Call the two a pair rather than exact copies.
In Luxor
One obelisk stands beside the pylon of Luxor Temple, at the entrance where the road from Karnak arrives.
In Paris
The other obelisk stands on the Place de la Concorde. It is the western one of the original pair.
Our pick: guided visit of Luxor Temple
A guided visit takes you to the pylon where the remaining obelisk stands, with entry to your chosen site; pick the Luxor Temple option when you book.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Luxor Temple tours with a guide
See the obelisk and pylon with a guide who can explain the pair. Live prices and availability for visits that include Luxor Temple.
How the obelisk travelled to Paris
A journey of more than two years.
A specially built ship carried the obelisk. It went down the Nile to Alexandria, then by sea via Toulon, Cherbourg and Le Havre, and up the Seine to Paris. The engineer in charge was Apollinaire Lebas. The year 1836 is when the obelisk was raised, not when the whole journey took place, which is a common mix-up.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 31 October 1831 | The obelisk is lowered in Luxor |
| 23 December 1833 | The ship arrives in Paris |
| 25 October 1836 | The obelisk is raised on the Place de la Concorde |
| 26 September 1981 | France gives up its claim to the obelisk that remained in Luxor |
For most readers, three dates are enough to remember: lowered in 1831, arrived in 1833, raised in 1836.
Seeing the obelisk in Luxor
The obelisk stands at the entrance, so you see it before you pass through the gateway. Luxor Temple is open daily from 06:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:00. Foreign adults pay EGP 500 and foreign students EGP 250 in 2026, up to age 24 with a valid student card. Children under 6 enter free.
The light on the stone changes through the day, and the obelisk and statues are lit at night. Our page on Luxor Temple at night explains what the evening visit looks like. To understand how the road in front of the pylon connects to Karnak, read about the Avenue of Sphinxes. Karnak has obelisks of its own, covered in the Karnak guide to obelisks and the sacred lake.
The obelisk in the story of Thebes
Obelisks were raised at temple gateways. The pair at Luxor Temple stood at the entrance that Ramses II built in front of the older temple. Knowing this helps when you stand before the pylon: the obelisk, the colossal statues and the gateway belong together at the front of the temple. For the wider setting, see our history of Luxor Temple and ancient Thebes.
In Paris the obelisk has been part of a city square for nearly two centuries.
The pair compared: Luxor and Paris
Same monument, two very different settings.
| Luxor | Paris | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Entrance of Luxor Temple, beside the pylon | Place de la Concorde |
| Setting | Temple frontage with colossal statues | City square, on a base of about 240 t |
| Since | Original position at the gateway | Raised on 25 October 1836 |
| How to see it | With a temple ticket, EGP 500 for foreign adults in 2026 | In the square |
For most travellers, the Luxor obelisk shows what the monument was made for, because it still stands beside its gateway.
Luxor obelisk: frequently asked questions
Where is the twin of the Luxor obelisk?
On the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The other obelisk of the pair stays at the entrance of Luxor Temple.
How tall is the Luxor obelisk?
The obelisks of the pair are about 22 to 25 m high. The monolith in Paris weighs around 220 to 230 tonnes, and its base adds about 240 t.
When did the obelisk arrive in Paris?
The ship arrived on 23 December 1833. The obelisk was raised on the Place de la Concorde on 25 October 1836.
Can I see the obelisk in Luxor for free?
Do not count on a free view. Plan on the temple ticket, EGP 500 for foreign adults in 2026, and check the current entry rules at the gate.
Does France still own the second obelisk?
No. France gave up its claim to the obelisk in Luxor on 26 September 1981.
How did the obelisk get to Paris?
It went down the Nile to Alexandria, then by sea via Toulon, Cherbourg and Le Havre, and up the Seine to Paris. The engineer in charge was Apollinaire Lebas.