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Champs-Elysées: The Grand Promenade of Paris
Known as the most beautiful avenue in the world, Champs-Elysées is the grand promenade of Paris. The street covers almost 2 kms in length and 70 meters width. Along the street you will find luxury specialty shops, cinemas, cafes and high-end theaters that make Champs-Elysées one of the priciest streets in terms of real estate value in the world.
Champs-Elysées is also home to globally recognized French monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. Renowned institutions like the Presidential Elysee Palace are also located on the avenue. This historic building has been the residence of presidents of France since 1873. Such institutions have made the area one of the wealthiest in France. You will come across well manicured gardens with fountains along the street. Grand buildings like the Petit Palais are located on the southern part of Champs-Elysées.
This remarkable avenue wasn’t always like this. In the sixteenth century, Champs-Elysées was covered by fields. However, a renowned landscape designer in Paris known as Andre Le Notre designed a route that stretched to the east from the Tuileres. The promenade was isolated but it still had a few grand buildings which made it a fashionable place. It was known as Grande Allee du Roule or Grand Cours.
Later on, the promenade was renamed to Champs-Elysées which meant ‘Elysian Fields’ in English. This name originated from a Greek word known as Elusia which meant a place where heroes went to relax. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, Champs-Elysées went through significant changes that made it a remarkable place. First of all, the street was extended to cover Chaillot Hill. Ignaz Hittorf, a famous French architect designed the Place de la Concorde and also installed beautiful sidewalks and fountains along the street. In the late eighteenth century, Champs-Elysées had already started attracting prominent hotels, restaurants and bars in Paris.
In 1994, Champs-Elysées was redesigned again by Bernard Huet. This was the latest redesign and it included pedestrian zones, wider sidewalks, underground parking lots and new trees planted to beautify the avenue. The grand avenue continues to undergo numerous transitions over the years.
Because of the high cost of rent, few people live on the Champs-Elysées. Most of the buildings here are occupied by offices. Global chain stores such as Adidas, Disney Store, Nike, Zara, Toyota and Gap are located on the Avenue. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss are found in this prime real estate location.
Major celebrations take place on this impressive French street. You will find large and often times spontaneous gatherings on Champs-Elysées celebrating poplar events like the New Year’s Eve. National events in Paris like when France won the FIFA World Cup in 1998 took place at Champs-Elysées. The grand avenue has been a site of various political rallies and protests like during the 2002 Presidential elections. Parisians also gather every year to celebrate Bastille Day on 14th of July and watch the largest military parade in Europe pass down Champs Elysees. This grand avenue has transformed Paris into an epitome of luxury, history and culture.
France Homestyle’s Champs-Élysées three bedroom Paris apartment is located between the Champs-Elysées and Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré in an exclusive neighborhood next to the President's quarters. This fully renovated apartment with three bedrooms and three baths provides comfortable and elegant accommodation for up to six guests.
Another apartment nearby is Saint-Honoré Two-Bedroom apartment located on a quiet street just off rue du Faubourg St. Honoré in the chic 8th arrondissement. From the apartment, you can walk less than a block to the Jardin des Champs-Elyseés with its fountains, flowerbeds, paths and pavilions, popular since the end of the 19th century. Across the Avenue des Champs-Elyseés, also in a park, is the Théâre du Rond Point featuring a variety of theater performances in a round theater that dates back to Napoleon’s time.
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