David Hill, with New York Habitat, introduces you of the first episode of the Paris video tours : the famous Champs Élysées. This Paris prestigious Avenue is known for its glitz, glamour and intriguing history. Don't hesitate to enjoy existing video guides for the marvelous city of New York City as well. For example, discover the Morningside Heights area http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrPM5glklTU ) or West and Central Harlem ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LbNI9u8vOA ) The Champs Élysées is located on the right bank of Paris. Starting from Place de la Concorde, in front of the Hotel Crillon and the Tuileries Gardens, it slowly travels away towards the Arc de Triomphe. It is encircled on the north by the presidential Palais de l'Elysée and to the south by Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and it is also the starting point of the most expensive street of the French Capital: l'Avenue Montaigne. Champs Élysées History The Champs Élysées was built in 1667 by Le Notre, King Louis XIV's landscape architect, to make an elegant road between his summer palace at St-Germain-en-Laye and the Louvre. The avenue became even more attractive later with fountains, restaurants & theaters which helped to turn the Champs Élysées into the playground of the French rich and famous. Place de la Concorde This place is the most royal and revolutionary in Paris, with refined statues and monumental fountains. Place de la Concorde is also flanked by the Assemblée Nationale, the French Parliament. Royalty is also reflected in the Tuileries Gardens which was the former royal gardens and includes gold covered fountains. That is where the royal connections ends, literally, as the Place de la Concorde was the home to the guillotine during the French Revolution, where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette met their fateful demise. In the middle, we can admire the mysterious Egyptian Obelisk from Luxor. Avenue Montaigne Avenue Montaigne is famous for its Haute-Couture shops including Chanel, Dior, Balanciaga, Louis Vuitton and more, add a fantastic theater and a glamorous café and you have the perfect recipe for a chic Paris street. Take a break on Avenue Montaigne at the Sex & the City hot spot, the Plaza Athénée, to sip a martini and star watch. Shopping Scene The Champs Élysées is certainly the right place for shopping. The street has a fantastic array of clothing, shoes, perfume, pastries, music & book shops. Don't miss the famous drugstore at the end of the Avenue to buy groceries to cook in the kitchen of your vacation rental. You're sure to be tired after a long day of shopping on the Champs Elysées, so why not rent one of the many Paris vacation rentals that New York Habitat has to offer ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/vacation ) ? New York Habitat ( http://www.nyhabitat.com ) offers apartments all over Paris ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment.html ). Check out this one bedroom vacation rental located in the Champs Élysées neighborhood ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/vacation/4121 ). The apartment is located on the top floor of a 10-story, elevator building. In addition the apartment is child-safe, features a washing machine, a fully equipped kitchen and television with cable channels. Or consider this two bedroom furnished apartment in the Champs Élysées area ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/vacation/2623 ). One room is furnished with a queen size bed while the other has a single bed. This rental also offers a fully equipped kitchen and includes the added bonus of a parking space. Grand Palais & Petit Palais They were built for the 1900 World's Fair. The Grand Palais is mainly used for major art exhibitions. Across the road is the Petit Palais, though it's not less prestigious. Inside the Petit Palais is a very lovely museum that has free admission, so you can quickly pop in to have a look at its eclectic collection of art from Roman times to the 20th century. Further down the street you can admire the golden dome of Les Invalides as well as the Pont Alexandre III, which is one of the nicest bridges in Paris, with its flying horses that are covered in gold. Tucked in behind the Petit Palais you will find The Ledoyen, one of French Cuisine's finest restaurants, which dates back to Louis XVI. The New York Habitat team hopes that you enjoyed this video tour of the Champs Elysees, in Paris. Do not hesitate to share with us others activities that you enjoy in the area, by leaving a message in the section below. Check out other video tour and several trip tips on our blog New York Habitat ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/blog/2010/11/08/video-tour-champs-elysees-part-1/ ) Continue the visit with Part 2 of our Video Tour (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZRomZ5QkKg)

• published: 04 Nov 2010
• views: 18841