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Adventure Guide: The Champs-Elysées
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The Avenue des Champs-Elysées is perhaps one of the world’s most recognized streets, but its history is actually quite recent. Up until the end of the 18th century it was still just a field with cows. Under the Second Empire it became the height of fashion, lined with private mansions and dance halls. Today it’s quite hard to find anything of historical interest, since much of the street’s character has been completely transformed by airline offices, cinemas and car showrooms. But despite this modernization, the tree-lined Champs-Elysées remains an impressive avenue framed by the dramatic Arc de Triomphe. Parisians gather here faithfully for annual events such as the Bastille Day parades and the finish of the Tour de France, and to see the sparkling holiday light displays.

The most pleasant area of the Champs-Elysées, between the Rond-Point and the Place de la Concorde, has no shops at all, just leafy gardens, chestnut trees and a few pavilions built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition. One of the nicer buildings, the Pavillon Elysées (at the Carré Marigny) was lovingly renovated and reopened in 2003 as a Lenôtre cooking school, café and boutique. Next door is the Théâtre de Marigny, designed by Garnier in 1853, where Offenbach performed his popular operettas. The Marché aux Timbres (vintage stamps and postcards) takes place outside every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Peeking above the trees on the other side of the avenue is the majestic Grand Palais, a 20th-century Art Nouveau exposition center, currently home to the Palais de la Découverte interactive science museum and planetarium (Avenue Franklin D Roosevelt, 8th, M° Champs-Elysées Clémenceau, ☎ 01 56 43 20 21, www.palais-decouverte.fr). Next door is the Petit Palais, also built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition. It normally houses the city’s Musée des Beaux-Arts, but is closed for major renovations until 2005.

If window shopping isn’t your thing, take a short detour up the Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt to the exquisite Musée Jacquemart-André (158 Boulevard Haussmann, 8th, M° St-Philippe-du-Roule, ☎ 01 45 62 11 59, www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/jandre). Formerly the private mansion of the art-collecting couple Edouard André and Nélie Jacquemart, this museum beautifully presents their original furnishings and impressive collection of 18th-century French, Flemish and Italian masterpieces. There’s also an elegant café open for lunch and afternoon tea (11:45am to 6pm). Museum open daily, 10am to 6pm. Tickets €8, €6 for kids ages seven to 17 (includes audio guide).

The Arc de Triomphe

Continue to the top of the Champs-Elysées, where the Arc de Triomphe sits proudly at the intersection of 12 avenues known as the Place du Général de Gaulle (although Parisians still refer to it by the original name, l’Etoile, which means star). Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor the Imperial Army, the massive 167-foot arch was finally completed 30 years later, under King Louis-Philippe. The Arc de Triomphe has become the symbolic centerpiece for many important historical events such as the funeral processions of Napoleon and Victor Hugo. The nation still cringes at the memory of Hitler’s occupying troops marching beneath the arch in WWII, and the joy when General de Gaulle’s liberation forces did the same in 1944. At the base of the arch lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame (maintained every evening at 6pm) in honor of those lost in WWI.

It’s definitely worth a visit to the open terrace on top of the Arc de Triomphe. From here you can get the best views of the Voie Triomphale, a line of monuments stretching north-south from the Grande Arche de la Défense to the Pyramide du Louvre. This sight is particularly fantastic to watch as the sun sets and the city lights up. Place du Général-de-Gaulle, 8th, M° Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, ☎ 01 55 37 73 77. Open April to September, 9:30am to 11pm; October to May, 10am to 10:30pm. Entry €7, €4.50 for students, free for kids under 18 and the first Sunday of the month. Museum Pass accepted.

Parc Monceau

Those with a bit of extra time can take a ride through the luxury residential district of Courcelles on Bus 30 (from the top of Avenue Wagram outside the Arc de Triomphe, direction Gare de l’Est) to the chic Parc Monceau (Boulevard de Courcelles, 16th, M° Monceau), an 18th-century English-style garden with theatrical landscaping touches such as a Corinthian colonnade, Egyptian pyramids and even a Renaissance arcade from the original Hôtel de Ville, which was burned down during the Commune. The gardens, enclosed by a gold-tipped wrought-iron fence, are surrounded by elegant mansions. One of these is the Musée Nissim de Camondo (63 Rue de Monceau, 8th, M° Monceau, ☎ 01 53 89 06 50, www.ucad.fr/ucadgb/nissim_eng), a museum of 18th-century decorative arts set in the private mansion Hôtel Camondo. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm; entry €4.60, €3.10 for students. Museum Pass accepted.

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Travel Guide: Champs Élysées
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Originally nothing but fields, Marie de Médicis created the Champs Élysées (Elysian Fields) tree-lined pathway in 1616. Over the years, it was extended and fountains and footpaths were added. Cafés, theaters and specialty shops sprung up along the avenue, and Champs Élysées is now one of the world's most beautiful and most famous boulevards. It stretches a little over a mile (nearly 2 kilometers) and is lined with trees. A large fountain graces the center.

 
Dictionary: Champs É·ly·sées  (shäN zā-lē-zā') pronunciation

A tree-lined thoroughfare of Paris, France, leading from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

 

 

(French: "Elysian Fields") One of the world's most remarkable avenues, stretching 1.17 mi (1.88 km) from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, in Paris. It is divided into two parts by the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées. The lower part, toward the Place de la Concorde, is surrounded by gardens, museums, theaters, and restaurants. The upper part, toward the Arc de Triomphe, was traditionally a luxury commercial district. Twelve imposing avenues radiate to form a star (étoile) at the avenue's upper end, with the Arc de Triomphe at its center; it was called Place de l'Étoile from 1753 until 1970, when it was renamed Place Charles de Gaulle.

For more information on Champs-Élysées, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Champs Élysées
(shäN zālēzā') , avenue of Paris, France, leading from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It is celebrated for its tree-lined beauty, its commodious breadth, the elegance of its cafés, theaters, and shops, and the fountain display at its center. Begun by Louis XIV and completed by Louis XV, it led through open country until the early 19th cent.


 
Geography: Champs Élysées
(shahn zay-lee-zay)

A major avenue in Paris famous for the elegance of its cafés and shops. In French it means Elysian Fields.

 
Wikipedia: Champs-Élysées
8e Arrt.
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AVENUE
des
CHAMPS ÉLYSÉES
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Arrondissement VIIIe
Quarter Champs Elysées. Faubourg du Roule.
Begins Place de la Concorde
Ends Place Charles De Gaulle
Length 1910 m
Width 70 m
Creation 1670
Denomination March 2, 1864
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The Champs Elysées during
the Christmas season
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The Champs-Élysées (pronounced /ʃɑ̃zelize/ Sound audio?) is the most prestigious and broadest avenue in Paris. Its full name is actually "Avenue des Champs-Élysées". With its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops, the Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world, and with rents as high as $1.25 million a year for  square feet ( m²) of space, it remains the 2nd most expensive strip of real estate in the world (the first in Europe) after New York City's Fifth Avenue.[1] The name refers to the Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed in Greek mythology.

The Champs-Élysées is known as La plus belle avenue du monde ("The most beautiful avenue in the world"). The arrival of global chain stores in recent years has slightly changed the character of the avenue, and in a first effort to stem these changes, the Paris City government (which has called this "banalization") decided in 2007 to ban the Swedish clothing chain H&M from opening a store on the avenue.[1] This street is also very popular with many of the rich and famous.

Description

The historical axis, looking west
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The historical axis, looking west
View from the "Jardin des Tuileries"
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View from the "Jardin des Tuileries"

The avenue runs for 2 kilometres (1.25 miles) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with its obelisk, to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. The Champs-Élysées forms part of the Axe historique. One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Élysées is bordered by greenery (Marigny Square) and by buildings such as the Théâtre Marigny and the Grand Palais (containing the Palais de la Découverte). The Elysée Palace is a little bit to the north, not on the avenue itself. Further to the west, the avenue is lined with cinemas, theaters, cafés and restaurants (most notably Fouquet's), and luxury specialty shops.

History

The Champs-Élysées in 1890
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The Champs-Élysées in 1890

The Champs-Elysées were originally fields and market gardens, until 1616, when Marie de Medici decided to extend the garden axis of the Palais des Tuileries with an avenue of trees. As late as 1716, Guillaume de L'Isle's map of Paris shows that a short stretch of roads and fields and market garden plots still separated the grand axe of the Tuileries gardens from the planted "Avenue des Thuilleries", which was punctuated by a circular basin where the Rond Point stands today; already it was planted with some avenues of trees radiating from it that led to the river through woods and fields. In 1724, the Tuileries garden axis and the avenue were connected and extended, leading beyond the Place de l'Étoile; the "Elysian Fields" were open parkland flanking it, soon filled in with bosquets of trees formally planted in straight rank and file. To the east the unloved and neglected "Vieux Louvre" (as it is called on the maps), still hemmed in by buildings, was not part of the axis. In a map of 1724, the Grande Avenue des Champs-Elisée stretches west from a newly-cleared Place du Pont Tournant soon to be renamed for Louis XV and now the Place de la Concorde.

American troops march down the Champs-Elysées after the liberation of Paris
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American troops march down the Champs-Elysées after the liberation of Paris

By the late 1700s, the Champs-Elysées had become a fashionable avenue; the bosquet plantings on either side had thickened enough to be given formal rectangular glades (cabinets de verdure). The gardens of houses built along the Faubourg St-Honoré backed onto the formal bosquets. The grandest of them was the Élysée Palace. A semi-circle of housefronts now defined the north side of the Rond Point. Queen Marie Antoinette drove with her friends and took music lessons at the grand Hôtel de Crillon on the Place Louis XV. The avenue from the Rond Point to the Etoile was built up during the Empire. The Champs-Elysées itself became city property in 1828, and footpaths, fountains, and gas lighting were added. Over the years, the avenue has undergone numerous transitions, most recently in 1994, when the sidewalks were widened.

The Champs-Elysées, because of its size and proximity to several Parisian landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, has made it the site of several famous (and infamous) military parades, the most famous of which were the march of German troops celebrating the Fall of France on June 14, 1940 and the subsequent entrance of Free French and American forces into the city after its liberation on August 25, 1944.

Premier offices and retail

The Champs-Élysées (seen from the Place de l'Etoile) are busy even in the late evening; cinemas, night clubs and restaurants attract a clientele. On the right, the Drugstore Publicis, open late, sells many wares, including upscale take-away food.
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The Champs-Élysées (seen from the Place de l'Etoile) are busy even in the late evening; cinemas, night clubs and restaurants attract a clientele. On the right, the Drugstore Publicis, open late, sells many wares, including upscale take-away food.

In 1860, the merchants along the avenue joined together to form the Syndicat d'Initiative et de Défense des Champs-Élysées, changed to an association in 1916 headed by Louis Vuitton to promote the avenue. In 1980, the group changed its name to the Comité des Champs-Élysées. It is the oldest standing committee in Paris. The committee has always dedicated itself to seek public projects to enhance the avenue's luxe atmosphere, and to lobby the authorities for extended business hours. Even today, the committee has approval over the addition of new business to the avenue.

Because of the high rents, few people live on the Champs-Élysées; the upper stories tend to be occupied by offices. Rents are particularly high on the North side of the avenue, because of better exposure to sunlight. The splendid architecture of the grandiose "Champs-Élysées" is admired by many people. It is located right next to the Palais de l'Élysée, the presidential palace, with its rounded gate, and the Grand Palais that was erected in the late 19th century. While walking among the gardens and tree-lined promenades one could even encounter an open-air marionette theatre for children, a French tradition popular through the ages.

Finally, the avenue is one of the most famous streets for shopping in the world. Benetton, the Disney Store, Nike, Zara, continental Europe largest's Gap and Virgin Megastore as well as Sephora occupy major spaces. Traditionally home of luxury brands, the Champs Elysées confirms its worldclass appeal as a prime real estate location: it has lately seen the opening of new big upscale shops such as the biggest Louis Vuitton department store in the world, which even hosts an exhibition room, and Adidas opened as well in February 2007 its largest store in the world in a wonderful old, classy building[[1]. ]. Nike has done the same on the south side of this famous avenue by opening its largest European concept store known as "Nike Paris".

Events

Every year on Bastille Day, the largest military parade in Europe passes down the Champs-Élysées, reviewed by the President of the Republic (see our multimedia content on the parade).

Every year from end of November to end of December, the 'Champs-Elysees' Committee contribute for the Holidays seasons lighting of the Champs-Elysees.

The Champs-Elysées is also the traditional end of the last stage of the Tour de France.

Huge and spontaneous gatherings occasionally take place on the Champs-Élysées in celebration of popular events, such as New Year's Eve, or when France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Avenue des Champs-Elysées from Arc de Triomphe, looking east towards the Louvre
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Avenue des Champs-Elysées from Arc de Triomphe, looking east towards the Louvre
Avenue des Champs-Elysées from Place de la Concorde, seen from above the obelisk
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Avenue des Champs-Elysées from Place de la Concorde, seen from above the obelisk
Looking east along the Champs-Elysées from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
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Looking east along the Champs-Elysées from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
View east towards the Place de la Concorde
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View east towards the Place de la Concorde
View west towards the Arc de Triomphe
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View west towards the Arc de Triomphe
Christmas on the Champs-Élysées
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Christmas on the Champs-Élysées


See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Elaine Sciolino, "Megastores March Up Avenue, and Paris Takes to Barricades", New York Times, January 21, 2007. link

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Namesakes

  • Champs-Elysées, a French-language audiomagazine (monthly audio-recording-with-annotated-transcription periodical), a tool to help speakers of French as a foreign language to advance from intermediate toward advanced skill level.

Coordinates: 48°52′11″N, 2°18′27″E


 
 

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Copyrights:

Adventure Guide. Paris & Ile de France. Copyright © 2004 by Heather Stimmler-Hall. All rights reserved.  Read more
Answers Corporation Travel Guide. © 1999-2008 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
Geography. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Champs-Élysées" Read more

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