Avenue des Champs-Elysées

"La plus belle avenue du monde" (The most beautiful avenue in the world). That's how the French call Champs-Elysées, a famous avenue in Paris.

I don't know if it is the most beautiful, but is probably the most famous in the Western world - and the most expensive as well. Full with designers and luxury shops - like Cartier, Channel and Victor Hugo - fancy restaurants and bars, and tourists attractions, the avenue is a must see in Paris.

It is 2km long and connects Place de la Concorde (where you'll find Luxor Obelisque, Louvre Museum and Jardin des Tuleries) to the Arc du Triomphe, the main attractions of the city (except for the Eiffel Tower).

For people who live in Paris the avenue is a place for either tourists or really rich people. A small apartment in Champs Elysée can cost more than 1, 5 million dollars a year for rent. It is the most expensive avenue in Europe.

History

Indeed, Champs-Elysées was projected to be a fancy avenue and it is a city mark. Its first project was made in the 17th century by the architect Le Nôtre, and it was extended by many other architects, including Haussmann, the urbanist responsible for making Paris a planned and bourgeois city.

In the 19th century, Paris was reformed and many avenues were built in order to make the city a more organized place, with streets aligned. Georges Haussmann, also known as Haussmann baron - since he was relatives with Napoleon III, was the one who made this projects. The most famous symbol of this renovation are the 12 avenues that meet at Arc du Triomphe, aligned with the Champs-Elysées.

The city got so symetrical that there are 3 archs that meet in the avenue: Arc du Triomphe, Louvre's Arch and La Défense Arch.

But even before that, the avenue used to be the main street in Paris, being the stage for official events and parades. During the 2nd world war, the Germans walked through Champs-Elysées as a ceremony for conquering France. When war was over, the French celebrated again there. And this is just one of the many historic events that took place there. Every year, the Tour de France, the most famous marathon in the world, go pass there as well.

Visitations

Due to all this history and fame, Champs-Elysées is a must visit in Paris. You can walk the whole avenue in 30 minutes and enjoy the time to do some shopping (if you are interested in buying brands) or to have a fancy coffee. This activities can be expensive, though, and can be done in any other place. I recommend only walking by and admiring the environment, and the tourist attractions such as Arc du Triomphe (this one is worth the visit and the money).

During december, the avenue gets even more pretty. It is adorned with Christmas decorations - lights, Xmas trees, and presents. It is really beautiful to visit it at this time of the year, although it can be rather cold.

In summertime the temperatures are nicer and you'll even feel like having an ice cream while walking there - or getting inside the shops for air conditioner. But really, you can visit it at any time of the year and it will always be Champs-Elysées, the most famous and fancy avenue ever!

Location

Champs-Elysées is not in the center of the city, but in it's heart since the most important avenues in Paris lead to there. You can get there almost by any means of transportation. By subway, there are four stations really close to the avenue: Concorde, (lines 1, 8 and 12), Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13), Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9) and George V (line 1).

It is also very close to many tourist attractions, besides the one directly located in the avenue: Palais des Invalides, Pont Alexandre III and Grand Palais.

It is a must see and easy to go. Don't miss it!

If you want to have the best celebrations ever and spent New Years Eve in Paris and you would like some more information about Christmas and NYE in Paris, check out this post.

The Champs-Elysées is the main avenue in Paris. It is located just between the Arc de Triomphe (Place Charles de Gaulle) and the Place de la Concorde.

This avenue is almost 2 km long. It's located in one of the most famous, elegant and commercial areas in the world. Here, the most expensive and most exclusive shops can be found, like Cartier, Guerlain, Dior, and Chanel; any and every important fashion designer has to be there, even if they aren’t the most well-known. In addition to these, there are also luxury car showrooms (in my opinion, it’s a little bit strange that they are situated on this street) and the best hotels in the city. The facades of the shops are their original ones, each with their own style, but now they really stand out thanks to their lights and decoration. The French have called it “the most beautiful avenue in the world” (in French, “la plus belle avenue du monde”).

The Champs-Elysées is also world of cycling, as this is where the final stage of the Tour de France is held, so it doubles as one of the symbols of the sport both for those who like it, and, especially, for those who participate in it.

I disagree with the French a bit, as, in my opinion, this is not the most beautiful avenue in the world. The first time that I went there, I didn’t believe that it was this avenue. At least, however, I was luckier the second time, as I walked along it from the Arc de Triomphe to the Plaza de la Concordia at nighttime when it was all decorated for Christmas. It’s clear that the French (well, at least from what I have seen in Strasbourg and Paris) don’t skimp on lights and Christmas decorations, but, that makes me happy because it’s really pretty. Also, there was a Christmas market in the area surrounding the Champs-Elysées, with some decorated little huts - one of which had a miniature Eiffel Tower, and another, a Father Christmas in a giant bauble.

What I liked the most was the lighting - it was spectacular. The Cartier store was illuminated with loads of red lights and two silver tigers; another store with several floors had a giant silver bow lit up in the centre; and, I remember that Dior had a huge amount of lights on its white facade, which I loved. All of the trees had blue lighting which that hung down and ended in circles around each tree, whose lights changed to orange from time to time, and, as the avenue is so long, it looked like a really striking trail of lights. The bigger horses had huge balls of light, and there were trees that looked like they had snow. The Ferris wheel in the Plaza de la Concordia gave it the final touch; it was as if all of the lights were going to stop the wheel.

We also saw the famous macarons store, Ladurée: the shop window was spectacular, and there was a pyramid of silver macarons that really caught my attention. We didn’t buy the macarons there because a Parisian friend of ours told us that the best ones are those from Pierre Hermé.

If I was rich, I would have found a more attractive avenue, haha, as there were too many people with bags from brands that I don’t think I could ever afford.

The area closest to the Plaza de la Concordia consists of green spaces, in addition to important public buildings. The buildings that are located there include the Palais de la Découverte (Discovery Palace), and the Grand Palais.

Another characteristic of the avenue is the row of trees that sit on either side of it.

After the Arc de Triomphe until the Grande Arche de la Défense, there is another avenue that looks like it follows on from the Champs-Elysées, but it actually has nothing to do with it.

The metro stops that sit along the avenue are: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13), if you want to start your journey along it from the Concordia; closer to the centre is the stop, Frankin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9); and closer to the Arc de Triomphe is the George V stop (line 1). Of course, if you want to start from either of the far ends of the avenue, you have the choice of the Concorde stop (lines 1, 8 and 12) at one end, and, at the other end, the Charles de Gaulle-Etoile stop (lines 1, 2 and 6 of the metro, and line A for local trains).

PS: if you want to discover more about Paris, or you are living there over New Year's Eve, check out this post about New Year's Eve celebrations!