Champs Elysees (photo: martinsoler.com)

Created in 1667 by André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV’s gardener,in order to improve the view from the Tuileries garden. The avenue was lengthened at the end of the 18th century, running from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Two kilometers long and bordered by trees, les Champs-Elysées has become the center for festivities and official parades. It is likewise a magnet for tourists and night strollers. Set between the many cinemas,the cafés and restaurants tempt you to stop in. Designer boutiques, banks and embassies are also situated in this chic neighborhood.

The Champs-Élysées (literally, the “Elysian fields”) is a broad avenue in the French capital Paris. With its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops, the Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world.

The avenue runs from the Place de la Concorde to the Place de l’Étoile, location of the Arc de Triomphe, and forms part of the line of the Axe historique.

The Champs-Élysées were originally nothing but fields, until 1616 when Marie de Medici decided to build a long tree-lined pathway. In 1724, the avenue was extended up to the Place de l’Étoile.

By the late 1700s, it had become a fashionable avenue where Queen Marie Antoinette strolled with her friends and took music lessons at the grand Hotel Crillon. The Champs-Élysées 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 1993.

The Élysée Palace is located not far from the avenue.

Suggested walk:

Walking from the Louvre, through the Tuileries gardens, round the Place de la Concorde and up the Champs Elysee then for a final walk up the Arc de Triomphe is recommended for those who want to explore the royal side of Paris and if you like walking.