The Champs-Élysées (
French for "Eliseo's
Fields) is the most prestigious and broadest avenue in
Paris. Its full name is "
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
.50 million a year for 1,
000 square feet (
100 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. The name refers to the
Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed in
Roman mythology.
The Champs-Élysées is known in
France 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.
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, but not on the avenue itself. Further to the west, the avenue is lined with cinemas, theaters, cafés and restaurants (most notably
Fouquet's), and 2014 luxury specialty shops.
Finally, the avenue is one of the most famous streets for shopping in the world.
Benetton, the
Disney Store,
Nike,
Zara, continental Europe's largest 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. Nike has done the same on the south side
of this famous avenue by opening its largest
European concept store known as "Nike Paris".
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.
Les Champs-Élysées sont situés dans le
8e arrondissement de Paris, au nord-ouest de la ville. Ils commencent à la place de la
Concorde, où se dresse l'Obélisque, et s'étendent sur 1910 mètres, d'est en ouest, sur terrain plat dans la première moitié, puis en montée jusqu'à la place Charles-de-Gaulle (ancienne place de l'
Étoile, au sommet de la butte de
Chaillot), au centre de laquelle se trouve l'arc de triomphe de l'Étoile. Sa largeur est de soixante-dix mètres.
Son tracé rectiligne offre une longue perspective née du palais du
Louvre, dans laquelle s'alignent la statue équestre de
Louis XIV dans la cour
Napoléon du Louvre, l'arc de Triomphe du
Carrousel, le jardin des
Tuileries, l'Obélisque, l'arc de Triomphe, et plus loin à l'ouest, en-dehors de Paris, l'arche de la Défense. Il s'agit de l'axe historique de l'ouest parisien.
C'est un des principaux lieux touristiques de Paris. Dans sa partie inférieure, l'avenue est bordée d'espaces verts (square Marigny) et de quelques constructions (théâtre Marigny,
Petit Palais, Grand Palais et son Palais de la découverte),
Palais de l'Élysée. Dans sa partie supérieure, on trouve de nombreuses boutiques de luxe, des lieux de spectacle (des cinémas, notamment les
UGC Normandie, George-V et Triomphe ; le
Lido ; le théâtre des Champs-Élysées), de célèbres cafés et restaurants (Fouquet's)
...
- published: 08 Apr 2008
- views: 106997