In which city are the Champs-Elysees in France. History of Champs Elysees

Address: France, Paris, 8th arrondissement
Length: 1910 m
Width: 70 m
Stretched from Place de la Concorde to Place Charles de Gaulle
Coordinates: 48°52"14.7"N 2°18"16.4"E

In almost any tourist brochure for Paris, on its first pages you can find detailed description the largest street of the capital of France called Champs Elysees.

It is truly wildly popular not only among the guests of one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, but also among its native inhabitants. The Champs-Elysees (Shan-Elise) was mentioned more than once in novels, poems and poems by the most famous writers and poets. By and large, in Paris, according to its inhabitants, there are two hearts: the first, as you know, is Notre Dame Cathedral, and the second is the unique and magnificent Champs Elysees. Without this street, which is just over 1915 meters long and 71 meters wide, it is simply impossible to imagine modern Paris.

View of the Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe

There is nothing surprising in the fact that on the legendary Champs Elysees in Paris you can constantly meet huge crowds of people. It cannot be otherwise: after all, the name of this street comes from the Greek language (the word Elysium), and it is it that perfectly characterizes the highway, located in the 8th district of the capital of a wonderful European country. Almost all linguists and historians agreed that the name of the Champs Elysees means a mystical country with a beautiful field, where, after all the trials of life, an immortal soul enters, and where there is no pain, no worries, no suffering: after their death, everyone on this field stays in the eternal bliss. As they say in one of the ancient Greek myths, from which the name of the giant avenue of Paris came from, on the Champs Elysees (blissful) fields it is always warm in spring, there are no diseases, torments and torments.

According to statistics, The Champs Elysees in Paris is rightfully considered one of the most visited attractions in Paris.. Here you can meet travelers from all over our vast planet. They walk sedately along the historical axis of the capital and cover a distance of almost 2 kilometers to admire the most picturesque landscapes and freeze in amazement at the genius of the architect Le Nôtre, thanks to whose talent the avenue appeared that connects Place de la Concorde and the legendary Arc de Triomphe. If you carefully study the numerous works of architects, designers and brochures compiled by professional guides, you can draw a definite conclusion: the Champs Elysees in Paris is the most beautiful street not only in France, but throughout the world. Naturally, this version also has opponents, but you instantly forget about their opinion when you find yourself on the cozy and thought out to the smallest detail, the majestic and beautiful Shan-Elise.

View of Arc de Triomphe from the Champs Elysees

Champs Elysees in Paris: the emergence of one of the most beautiful places on the planet

By carefully studying the ancient documents that have survived, despite the inexorable course of time, to this day, you can see that for the first time the territory on which the Champs Elysees currently stretch was a wetland. Among the bumps and sparse forest french kings and the nobility organized duck hunting. This area received its significance and luxurious appearance thanks to Marie de Medici, who gave the order to equip the territory and make it, in a way, a continuation of the beautiful Tuileries Park. There is also an official document, which says that Louis XIV, already at the end of August 1667, orders to build three roads here at once. On them it was possible to easily and comfortably get from Versailles to the Tuileries Castle. The view that opens up to the riders could put anyone into a stupor with its splendor and virgin nature.

Louis XIV liked the trip from one residence to another so much that he soon made an order to the greatest landscape architect (now he would be called landscape designer) André Le Nôtre for the development of the territory adjacent to those three roads. Lenontre did not think long about the project: in just a few years, at the cost of incredible efforts, the swamp was drained, and in its place there were areas for walking and shady alleys, where couples in love preferred to retire. After all the work on drying the area, according to the plan of the courtier Andre Le Nôtre, three roads are strengthened, and near them ... a lot of gas lanterns are installed. After that, the Champs-Elysées became a favorite place for walks of the nobility and the indigenous population of Paris.

Already in the 18th century, the road among the picturesque fields, where the human soul rests from all adversities, became even longer: Duke d? royal gardens, decided to complete it to the Chaillot hill: in our time, this section, to which the road was laid, is called Charles de Gaulle Square. It was far from the last reconstruction of the roads. Immediately after the death of the Duke d? Anten, the Marquis de Marigny makes it even longer, and it ends at the bridge of Neuilly. The well-arranged territory, where already in those days one could find cozy coffee houses and briskly selling shops, attracted the attention of not only Parisians, but also all guests of the capital. The Russian writer Nikolai Karamzin describes the fields quite interestingly in his famous “Notes of a Traveler”. “Here on weekends it is always fun and light in a special way, beautiful lawns, huts that suddenly appear out of nowhere, in which they offer coffee. It seems that after a hard working week, all Parisians gather here to have plenty of fun, listen to music, watch dances or just dine right on the grass, ”the travel writer spoke about the beautiful fields like this.

Its name is "Champs Elysees", amazing beauty avenue, received only after the start of the French Revolution. Under the reign of Louis XVI, this area was generally abandoned for a while: only a desperate person would risk taking a walk along Shan Eliza.

Champs Elysees at night

Robbers were hiding in shady alleys, ready to attack their victim at any moment. As a result of this state of affairs, a guard post was built on the Champs Elysees. This helped to somehow contain the growth of crime in the beautiful place that Andre Le Nôtre showed to the world. By the way, this post is connected with one very interesting story…. In June 1791, the royal family was forced to flee from rebellious Paris. At the guards post at that moment there was a large detachment of soldiers who held banners in their hands stating that the king should not be applauded and offended by a crowned person. These posters also reported on the punishment that threatens everyone for violating the order. Those who praised the king were to be beaten with sticks, and those who offended members of the monarch's family would be immediately hanged.

Champs Elysees: a complicated story

In 1810, Marie Louise, who managed to become an empress, entered Paris with special brilliance precisely through the Champs Elysees. They have already become a kind of symbol of power over the country and its capital. Four years later, the Russian Cossacks, at the command of Alexander I, took Paris with a fight. They set up camp, of course, on the beautiful Champs Elysees. After their atrocities, almost everything on the territory was destroyed. It took several years to restore Shan Elise. In 1828, on the reconstructed and transferred to the municipality of Paris, the Champs-Elysées began mass building and beautification of the territory: new pavilions were built, and 8 years later the famous Arc de Triomphe appeared.

Night illumination on the Champs Elysees

Paris, however, like the whole of France, has always been considered a tasty morsel for all conquerors without exception. During the first occupation of Paris by the Germans in 1870, the Champs Elysees became the place where the invaders held almost daily parades. In 1940, the Nazi troops, who treacherously invaded France, marched bravely to the sound of their anthem through the Arc de Triomphe and along the Champs Elysees. Such a procession was not accidental, it was approved by Hitler himself: in this way he showed the French that the Nazis had unlimited power over Paris and the country.

Champs Elysees today

The modern traveler who is brought to Paris must certainly visit the Champs Elysees, with their many boutiques, restaurants, pavilions, gardens and palaces. It is no coincidence that any Frenchman will say to a guest of his city: “If you have not seen the Champs-Elysées and have not approached the Arc de Triomphe, you have not been to Paris and you know absolutely nothing about our majestic city, a city where literally every street is saturated with an atmosphere of romanticism.”

You can walk along the Champs Elysees in only an hour, and this despite the fact that the tourist will not go to restaurants, bars and luxury shops that sell everything from small souvenirs to clothes from the latest collections of the most famous couturiers.

View of the Luxor obelisk from the Champs Elysees

“Why does it take so long to walk along the Shan Elise, because its length is only 1915 meters?”, A traveler who has never been to the Champs Elysees may ask. The point is that the walk pedestrian zone often turns into a real test: in one of the most popular places in Paris you can always meet huge crowds of tourists who take pictures of literally everything that they meet on their way with their cameras. There is nothing surprising in this, here every house, every palace and every alley has its own interesting history.

However, before walking along the Champs-Elysées, it is necessary to carefully study the tourist brochures and choose for yourself the most important objects that you should definitely see and capture as a keepsake. First of all, this is undoubtedly the Arc de Triomphe. You should definitely visit the oldest restaurant on the Champs Elysees called Ledoyen: it was there that Maupassant, Emile Zola, Flaubert and other equally famous personalities whiled away their time with a cup of coffee. True, you can sit in it only if the budget allows it: even for coffee, the prices in it are unusually high. Behind the hedge you can also see the Champs Elysees, which is currently considered the official residence of the president. True, you can get into it only on one of the weekends in September: the head of state does not want to see numerous tourist groups in his apartments.

Night illumination on the Champs Elysees

The Champs-Elysées walking area ends at the Ron Point Theatre, which will undoubtedly arouse the interest of all lovers of high art. Right behind this theatre, which employs a troupe of artists organized by Jean-Louis-Barrot and Madeleine Renaud, a branching into two alleys begins. On them you can find a lot of banking institutions, expensive boutiques and airline offices. It is also interesting that until 2002 a portrait of V.I. Lenin. No, the French did not respect him, he simply adorned the cash desk of the well-known Aeroflot airline.

Tourists who have already visited the Champs Elysees say that if a traveler has a feeling of hunger, and his budget does not allow him to dine in expensive restaurants, you can have a bite to eat in a huge McDonald's, which also found a place on the main artery of Paris. By the way, about restaurants, on the Champs Elysees, the Le Fouquet "s institution, which Charlie Chaplin visited almost daily, has miraculously survived to this day.

You can talk about shops on the Champs Elysees forever: what is the world's largest supermarket selling exclusively sportswear and accessories of the Adidas brand and the largest department store ... Louis Vuitton, where prices start at 1,000 euros per item. It would be fundamentally wrong to think that the Champs Elysees in Paris in the 20th century were turned into a huge "market". This is not at all true: to build something on one of the most visited attractions of the French capital, any company will have to collect an unimaginable amount of permits and pay a huge tax.

The traveler who gets to the Champs Elysees on the day of one of the national holidays of France will be especially lucky. For example, on August 26, when a grandiose parade takes place here in honor of the liberation of the country from the Nazi invaders in 1944. However, it is worth remembering that even on a day when the weather is not conducive to walking, Shan Elise is visited by just over 300,000 people ... a day! The average attendance of the main avenue of the capital is about 450,000 people per day. Why per day? Yes, because on the Champs Elysees, life and celebration do not stop for a minute: even at night and in the predawn hours in this beautiful and amazing place you can see numerous guests of the city and Parisians enjoying the atmosphere of romanticism and luxury. And how could it be otherwise on Shan Elise, which is sung in the immortal song of Joe Dassin ...

The Champs Elysees is the most popular street in Paris, up to 80 thousand people pass through it every hour! The most prominent attraction of the Champs-Elysées is the Arc de Triomphe in the Place Charles de Gaulle. The monument was erected by order of Napoleon in memory of those who fought for France during the revolutions and Napoleonic wars. At its foot, events are held dedicated to important events in the life of France, as well as holidays and folk festivals. Next to the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame. The arch is surrounded by hundreds of granite pedestals, symbolizing Napoleon's hundred-day reign. The names of generals are imprinted on the walls of the building. Here you can stop for a long time, looking at the bas-reliefs depicting battle scenes. If you climb observation deck arches (€6 for adults and free for children under 12), you can see the most elegant street in the world from a height of 49 meters in all its glory. And inside the arch is interesting museum. Twice a year, on July 14, on Bastille Day, and on November 11, on the anniversary of the First World War, the national military parade starts from the arch. The famous Tour de France bicycle race finishes here, the Paris Marathon and the Christmas market take place here. It is at the arch that almost a third of the population French capital celebrated the victory of the national team at the World Cup.

On Place de la Concorde, pay attention to the stele in its center - a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt to Napoleon. Before it was presented as a gift to the French emperor, the stele adorned the temple of Ramses II in Luxor for more than thirty centuries. The stele is surrounded by two fountains, decorated with figures of mythological characters.

Right there, on the square, there are 8 statues, each of which is a symbol big city France - Marseille, Lyon, Nice and others.

In 1795, two paired sculptural groups were installed here - “Horse Tamers” and “Marley Horses”. Today, copies stand in their place, and the originals, damaged by time, were transported to the Louvre.

The Champs Elysees has been the residence of all French presidents since 1873, another iconic place on the Champs Elysees. Among its owners at one time were Madame de Pompadour and Napoleon's wife Josephine. In the Silver Salon of the palace, Napoleon signed his abdication, and in the Golden Salon, the situation of which has not changed since 1861, is the personal office of the head of France. In 1812, Russian Emperor Alexander I lived here after the defeat of France in the war. The palace is closed to tourists, you can see the life of the first person in France only on the Days of Cultural Heritage, which are held in the country on the third weekend of September.

At the intersection with Churchill Street there are two more beautiful palace- Grand Palais and Petit Palais (Large and Small). Magnificent are their neoclassical architecture and sculptural compositions. IN Grand Palace located the Discovery Museum and Art Gallery, and in Maly - an exposition of the city museum of fine arts.

Sergei Yesenin and Isadora Duncan lived at the Crillon Hotel, but the poet behaved so scandalously that he was refused a room, and then completely expelled from the country.

What to visit?

Have a cup of coffee surrounded by French high society those who wish can go to the Fouquet "s (Foucault) cafe. Charlie Chaplin himself dined here!

The Rasputin restaurant attracts visitors with the preserved spirit of the Russian aristocracy. Opposite the restaurant is the famous cabaret Lido, the realm of music, seductive women and their spicy dances.

Visitors will remember for a long time lunch at the Pavillon Ledoyen restaurant - one of the oldest in France, built back in 1848. Just imagine that Maupassant, Zola and Flaubert drank coffee here!

Gourmets can taste classic French haute cuisine at La Fermette Marbeuf and Lasserre restaurants. Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire is one of the six the best restaurants peace.

Man Ray is a bohemian club co-owned by Sean Penn and Johnny Depp that gathers the glamorous party of Paris. Another popular club is Queen, which is open daily until 4 am.

The Gaumont Cinema often hosts world-class film premieres featuring famous stars.

Theatergoers will not miss the opportunity to attend a performance at the Marinier Theater and Music Hall, located in a park area.

IN cultural complex L Espase Pierre Carden features an art gallery, cinema and restaurant.

Near Monceau Park is the Nissima de Camondo Museum, where you will see an exhibition reflecting the lifestyle of the French bourgeoisie of the 19th century.

On the corner of Rue Rivoli in the Gallery of Modern Art, you can look at the amazing paintings of Claude Monet.

History and general information

Until the beginning of the 17th century, on the site of the Champs Elysees there were marshy meadows where the Parisian nobility hunted ducks. In 1616, on the orders of Marie de Medici, the laying of the Queen's Boulevard, leaving the Tuileries Garden, began. Then, over the course of several decades, the street was improved, and by the end of the century, construction began here. royal palace. After the royal court moved to Versailles, the boulevard was declared a walking area and a double row of elms was planted here. In the 18th century, the avenue borrowed its name from the mythology of the ancient Greeks, where the Champs-Elysées is a place of rest, which knows neither disease nor suffering.

Widespread popularity came to the Champs Elysees during the reign of Napoleon, when many cafes and entertainment venues opened here.

The Champs Elysees (Avenue des Champs-Elysees) stretch from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. The boulevard crosses diagonally the 8th arrondissement of Paris, its length is 1915 meters. If you walk along the avenue from Place de la Concorde, you will first walk along the park part of the street, where you can admire the magnificent sculptural groups. The length of the park part is 700 meters, the width is about 300. Park area divided by alleys into quarters, in each of which a fountain is built. On Wednesdays and weekends, numerous street performers put on performances and unusual shows for passers-by.

The most luxurious part of the street with chic shops, car dealerships, restaurants, cafes and cinemas stretches to the west of Rhone Point, its width is much less - about 80 meters. There is a road between the sidewalks.

Due to the high cost, almost no one lives on the Champs Elysees, there are only about 100 apartments. The buildings are occupied by embassies, representative offices and firms. Some companies rent an office for only a few hours for negotiations.

shopping

Every fashion brand considers it their duty to have a boutique on the Champs Elysees. Be prepared for the fact that shopping here will be expensive, because the street is recognized as the second most expensive street in the world after New York's Fifth Avenue. Wealthy tourists from all over the world come here for the last word from leading fashion designers. Here you can visit the stores of such fashion brands as Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, H&M, Gap, Cartier, Nike, Guerlain, Sephora, Yves Rocher, Valentino, Prada and many others. Here is the largest Adidas store. Brand stores are open until late in the evening, except weekends.

Children's products can be purchased at the Disney store.

Music lovers will be amazed by the selection of musical products in the Virgin Megastore (house 60), where you can also buy photo products.

Shopaholics should definitely take a dip in Magic world shopping at the following addresses: Galerie 34, Arcades du Lido 76-78, Galerie des Champs 84, Elysee 26, Point Show.

Monoprix department store offers an excellent selection of inexpensive and quality goods.

Video: Champs Elysees at night

Helpful information

Check out the Central Office of Tourism, where they will give you booklets about the sights of Paris and sell tickets to Disneyland Paris.

Although the Champs-Elysées is an expensive street, you can eat for 5-6€ at McDonald's. If you don’t like American fast food, then you can eat on the budget on the streets adjacent to the Champs Elysees, where prices are not so biting.

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Champs Elysees and stay here for a couple of days, then you can rent a room at the Mathis Elysees Matignon hotel, the advantages of which are relatively inexpensive for this place (from 150 €) and proximity to the metro, and the disadvantages are small rooms and unfortunate views from the window.

For €50, the hotels Pavillon Pereire Arc De Triomphe and Pavillon Courcelles Parc Monceau, located a kilometer from the Champs Elysees, will give shelter.

One of the most popular among the guests of the city is the Hotel Elysees Mermoz, the prices in it start from 180 €, the rooms are also small, but this is compensated by excellent service and an art gallery.

The Champs-Elysées is the pickpocketing champion of Paris, so be vigilant.

How to get there

Metro line 1 to Champs-Elysees-Clemenctau (lines 1 and 13), George V (line 1), Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile (lines 1,2 and 6) or Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9) . If you want to walk along the street from end to end, it is better to get off at Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile station, located near the Arc de Triomphe and move along the Champs Elysees from here to the Louvre. If you go in the opposite direction, you will have to climb up the hill.

If you and I found ourselves in the capital of France and managed to visit not only Notre Dame Cathedral, but also the Louvre, then let's continue our fantastic walk through amazing city and continue on to the Champs Elysees through the Tuileries Garden with its sculptures, intricately trimmed trees and paths strewn with crushed limestone.

Leaving the Louvre behind us, we admired the Parisian "matryoshka dolls" - three arches located along the historical architectural axis of the French capital, as if nested in each other: the triumphal arch on Carruzel Square, the Arc de Triomphe on Charles de Gaulle Square and the Grand Arch in the Défense district. Let's go along this axis.

At the Tuileries with Mayol and Perrault

“Under the sun, in the rain, at noon and at midnight, there is everything you want on the Champs Elysees” - this song by Joe Dassin, having barely sounded in 1969 for the French, and a few years later from the screens of Soviet televisions, became even more one easily recognizable stroke of the image of Paris. Avenue Champs-Élysées (avenue des Champs-Élysées) is a sparkling showcase of Paris, its business card with gold embossing. Since those very 1970s, each of our fellow citizens knows exactly what Shans-Elise is. Yes, just a song! And this is not far from the truth - the words "field" (champ) and "song" (chant) in French sound exactly the same.

The Champs-Elysées is not the longest street, and there will not be two kilometers, but it can take you several hours to walk along it. Why? Yes, because it is the focus of premiere cinemas, just theaters, glamorous restaurants and cafes, luxury stores. In a word, the cutting edge of world fashion and lifestyle, and here you will spend a lot of time, and maybe money.

I strongly advise you to make a short stop in the Tuileries Garden before getting a portion of fashion impressions.

Five centuries ago, there was a suburb here, where clay was mined for the production of tiles - la tuile. That is, the name of the exquisite garden with sculptures by Aristide Maillol can be translated as Tiles. After all, there are, say, streets in Moscow with the same completely proletarian names: Bronnaya, Kuznetsky Most, Stoleshnikov Lane. But it’s not armored workers, blacksmiths, or weavers that have been living there for a long time ...

Admire the most French regular park, and if you have children with you, then take pictures against the backdrop of a white marble monument to the storyteller Charles Perrault and his Puss in Boots (pictured above). And then sit down to eat in one of the summer cafes garden. If you have provisions in store, then you can have a picnic without hesitation, sitting on the chairs available in the garden. It is not forbidden to transfer them and put them where it is convenient for you.

Concorde with obelisk

Have a rest? Refreshed? Let's go further. We leave the Tuileries and get to Place de la Concorde (la place de la Concorde). It is easy to recognize her by the 23-meter Luxor obelisk Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, presented to France in 1831 by the ruler of Egypt, Mehmet (Mohammed) Ali.

In addition, the square is decorated with sculptures that allegorically depict the eight largest cities in the country:, Nantes, Bordeaux, and. There are also two fountains by the architect Jacques Ignace Hittorff, symbolizing one - the sea, the other - the four main rivers of France (Loire, Seine, Rhone and Garonne). The theme of the water element arose here for a reason: the Ministry of the Navy of France is located on the square. Well, a couple of the building of the Ministry was a luxurious five-star hotel Crillon (Hotel de Crillon). Outwardly, they are almost indistinguishable, because they were built according to the same project of the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel (Ange-Jacques Gabriel).

The Place de la Concorde is famous - alas, notorious - also for the fact that it was here during the Great French Revolution that King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, many royal ministers, and aristocrats were guillotined. And then the revolution began to devour its children - now Robespierre, Danton and many other "enemies of the people" went under the knife (yes, this phrase was not born in Soviet Russia - in revolutionary France). In total, the square, then called Revolution Square, saw more than a thousand executions! In 1795, the revolutionary terror came to naught, and the square was given a pacifying name - Consent.

History of the Champs Elysees. From Maria Medici to Russian Cossacks

While we are crossing the square to get to the Champs Elysees itself, let's remember where such a wonderful name came from. After all, in translation it means "Paradise fields." Elysium - this is how the ancient Greeks called their paradise, where the heroes of Hellas rest from battles and exploits on evergreen fields. The gods almost equalized their rights with themselves, the great ones. Remember Homer? He called Odysseus none other than god-like.

But even in the 16th century, there was nothing like the abode of the blessed here: a rare swampy forest in which only ducks blissed, and even those - until they fell into the sight of the king or his courtiers, who loved to hunt here. The first attempt to turn the jungle into a garden was made at the beginning of the 17th century at the direction of Marie de Médicis, wife of King Henry IV. She ordered to ennoble the hunting grounds, making them something like a continuation of the Tuileries garden. Happened.

Half a century later, her grandson King Louis XIV ordered that three roads be laid here at once, connecting the Louvre and the Tuileries Palace with his country residence - Versailles. Soon the sun king gives the architect-jardine (gardener) André Le Nôtre a large state order: to continue the arrangement of the roadside area so that it pleases the monarch's eye. Louis XIV was not mistaken in his choice - Andre, the son of the chief gardener of the Tuileries, Jean Le Nôtre, drained the remnants of duck swamps, built walking paths, and installed gas lamps along the royal highways. The king was delighted, and the people poured into the new “recreation area”.

In April 1790, our great historian Nikolai Karamzin visited here. Here are the impressions he left in his “Notes of a Russian Traveler”: “Through a vast velvet meadow you enter the fields of the Champs Elysees, not without reason called by this attractive name: a forest planted by the oreads themselves (mountain nymphs. - Auth.), with small flowering meadows, with huts, in different places scattered, of which in one you will find a coffee house, in the other - a shop. Here on Sundays people walk, music plays, cheerful bourgeois women dance. Poor people, exhausted from six days of work, rest on the fresh grass, drink wine and sing vaudeville.

In less than a quarter of a century, Russian officers, as they say, who grew up on Karamzin's books, were able to see with their own eyes what he wrote about. On March 30, 1814, the Russian army, with the support of the allies, defeated the remnants of the Napoleonic troops, took Paris and bivouacked right on the Champs Elysees. Here it is, a bivouac, on a lithograph of that time.

How to get there

I can only repeat: Paris must be felt not only with the heart, but also with the feet. Therefore, walk, look, admire and remember what you see for a lifetime. It is clear that you can be made happy with a hotel located very far from the sights of Paris, the same, for example, the Champs Elysees. Then, of course, you'd better use the metro - the legs are still not state-owned.

At the beginning of the avenue are the Tuileries and Concorde stations, closer to the middle are Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau and Franklin D. Roosevelt ("Franklin D. Roosevelt"), then - "Georges Sank" ("Georg V") and at the end, right next to the Arc de Triomphe, - of course, the station "Charles de Gaulle - Etoile" ("Charles de Gaulle - Étoile") , named after the square of the same name.

champs elysees

Well, here we are, the descendants of the Cossacks, soldiers, and maybe officers of 1814, found ourselves on the famous avenue. The first 700 meters of the Champs-Elysées are parks in which mansions are hidden, built a couple of centuries ago for the French nobility and the embassy corps.

To our right is the Elysee Palace, the residence of the President of France. But you can't see him behind the greenery of the park from Shans-Elise Avenue, you have to come closer. Of course, even in the presidential courtyard, let alone in the palace, you will not get. There is such an opportunity only once a year, on the third Sunday of September, when all or almost all doors open in France architectural monuments. The rest of the time, the president is asked not to disturb.

In his personal office in the Golden Salon of the Elysee Palace, he decides state issues, and God forbid he go down to the underground bunker, also called Jupiter's office! From this command post, the head of France can order the use of atomic weapons. Better let him visit Madame de Pompadour's musical salon more often, where the Council of Ministers now meets on Wednesdays.

Shops, restaurants, cafes etc.

There are so many fashionable shops (and sometimes companies that you have never even heard of before) and offices of large companies per square meter, perhaps nowhere else in Europe, or even in the world. Only here on Shans Elise. When I first came here, and it was back in the late 1980s, I proudly noted that our Aeroflot was no worse than Air France, Lufthansa or American Airlines. Because he opened his representative office in Paris not just anywhere, but on the Champs Elysees, 33. By the way, it is still there, look at the photo below.

At the risk of disappointing you, but I personally never bought anything on the Champs Elysees. And I do not advise you. I repeat: this is a showcase where the most famous brands are simply obliged to display their most fashionable flashy products. The position is binding. Look, be surprised, remember, figure out what suits you and what doesn’t. But this does not mean that you are obliged to buy these products here.

On that very first visit to Paris, I saw very beautiful, but expensive suede boots in one of the boutiques on Shans Elise. That would, I think, bring my wife. And then I found exactly the same in another store on the other street - half the price. My Soviet and then not at all a market soul did not immediately understand the simple truth that here you are paying extra for the right of your wife to say to her shocked friends: “Where are these boots from? Yes, my husband bought on the Champs Elysees ... "

Restaurants? Again, it cannot be said that the best cooks work here, on the Champs Elysees. Firstly, who likes what - one likes foie gras, and the other tartare, that is, just well-peppered ground beef. Raw! With raw yolks!.. Secondly, you should look for author's cuisine in other places in Paris. Because here, on the Champs Elysees, they cook for tourists. “But they,” the French think to themselves, “still don’t understand anything in our kitchen.” In short, if you want to eat deliciously, ask a Parisian where he dine himself.

It's a different matter if you have enough money to fulfill your goal of buying something right here on Shans Elise, and then mark the purchase (or purchases) here. Then - yes, I do not argue and take a step to the side along with common sense. Silence, voice of reason! After all, we are in Paris, we are on the Champs Elysees!

And, by the way, a stone's throw from the Place de la Zvezda, aka Charles de Gaulle Square.

The most convenient way to the Champs Elysees is by subway. Choose metro line 1 and get off at the stations "George V" (line 1), "Champs-Elysees-Clemenctau" (lines 1, 13), "Franklin D. Roosevelt" (lines 1, 9). If you want to walk along the entire avenue from beginning to end, then get off at the Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile stop (lines 1,2, 6). The station is located near the Arc de Triomphe. You can take the RER train (line A).

How much does it cost to walk along the avenue

The guided walking tour lasts about 2 hours and the cost depends on the number of tourists in the group. Up to 4 people - from 110 euros, from 5 to 8 people - from 130 euros (per group). A ticket to the Arc de Triomphe costs 6 euros, small tourists under 12 years old are admitted free of charge.

A visit to Paris by a tourist group includes a walk along the Champs Elysees. Check with the tour operator which attractions are included in your tour and how much it will cost to visit them.

Vibrant life day and night

The artery of Paris is open for viewing around the clock, even late at night or at dawn you will see many tourists and Parisians here. Most shops, restaurants and establishments are open until 23:30, although some are already closed at 20:00. Especially popular among tourists night restaurants and cafes receive visitors at night. Of course, the doors of most establishments open from 10 am. Attractions begin to welcome guests from 9 am to 6 pm, and some even until 11 am. Always check their hours of operation, as it also depends on the day of the week.

How long does the Triumphal Road last (how much time to plan)

Walking along the Arc de Triomphe (as the Champs Elysees are often called) can last from 2 to 6 hours, depending on where else you want to go while walking along the avenue. If you want to see Paris at night and meet the dawn in the richest district of Paris, then boldly allocate a day from your trip. Visits to well-known boutiques can drag on for a long time. Please note that in most of them prices start from 1000 euros per item.

History of the most beautiful avenue in the world

Champs-Elysées (Chance-Elise) - a street in the center of Paris, stretching for 1915 m. The name goes back to the Greek name "Elysium" - the island of the blessed. According to myths, there was no sadness, worries and worries on them. Heroes who were honored to be immortal lived here.

The park for walks is divided by alleys into squares. Ambassadors' Square with hotels for foreign ambassadors and diplomats, Champs Elysees with the residence of the President, Marigny Square, which houses the Marigny Theater and the philatelists' market, Ledoyen Square, famous for the restaurant of the same name, the large Holidays Square with the Small and big palaces. In addition to the last square, each of them is decorated with fountains by the architect Jacques Hittorf (1840-1847).

The store part is replete with signs of various organizations, salons, boutiques, companies. There are practically no houses on the street. There are about 100 apartments, the rest are offices, showcases, agencies, etc.

Now I can’t even believe that in the 16th century the Champs Elysees were a swamp. Kings came here to hunt. Maria Medici in 1616 ordered three alleys to be laid out here, which continued the Tuileries Garden. The alley was called the Queen's Boulevard. At Louis XIV pave the way from the Tuileries Palace to Versailles, which has become a walking area. The swamps were drained, trees were planted, the road for the movement of crews was strengthened, gas jets were placed on the sides.

The Champs Elysees in Paris is the widest avenue in the city, which is also recognized as one of the most beautiful and visited. Now it is very difficult to imagine that there were once swamps on the site of this highway. The length of the modern boulevard reaches almost 2 kilometers, which are conditionally divided into two zones: park and shop. Also, the street crosses many sights of Paris: Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Luxor obelisk, Louvre and others. No less interesting is the fact that Champs Elysees in Paris became a native boulevard for one of the US presidents - Thomas Jefferson, actress Sarah Bernhardt, French President Raymond Poincaré.

Champs Elysees in Paris: how to get there and where are they located?

They are located in the northwestern part of the French capital, stretching in a massive line between Charles de Gaulle Square and Concorde Square. The majestic Seine flows in the southern part of the famous highway, and in the eastern part you can find the unique Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens.
Since the street is quite large, you can get to it in a variety of ways:
1) By subway
This is one of the most accessible, convenient and economical ways to get to the Champs Elysees. In the vastness of this huge street there are seven stations of the French metro:
— Concorde. You can get to this stop by taking train lines 1, 8 or 12.
- Lines 1 and 13 pass through the station Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau, located on the territory of the Champs-Élysées.
– If it’s more convenient for you to take the first or ninth metro line, then you can take a walk along the famous boulevard by getting off at the Franklin D. Roosevelt station.
- Stop George V is also located on one of the sections of the long highway, you can get to it on the first metro line.
- Lines 1, 2,6 can take you to the station Charles de Gaulle - Étoile

2) On suburban electric train RER
RER is a very convenient way to travel from the center to its suburbs. Its electric trains move along several lines, which are called with Latin letters. So, you can get to the Champs Elysees using line A. You will need to get off at the station Charles de Gaulle - Étoile.
Also, this avenue can be reached by buses moving in the direction of Charles de Gaulle Airport and by any of the metropolitan taxis.

Shops on the Champs Elysees

The Champs Elysees is considered the center of glamor and luxury in Paris. Unlike other boutiques of the French capital, shops here work much longer - up to 23-24 hours, and they are located in the shopping and entertainment area.

The most popular boutiques of the popular street are:
1) des Champs-Elys’es is a wonderful Guerlain perfume store that, thanks to its long history and a chic interior can be considered a museum. Even if you can't afford to buy products here, you can just stop by to look at the golden tiles, the incomparable oak staircase, the skillfully laid out mosaic.

2) Beautiful place for shopping, Louis Vuitton store. Here you can find products of the most famous brands "Prada", "Valentino", "Armani", "Nina Ricci" and many others.

3) Sephora and Marionnaud - This is another great perfume store with high-end perfumes.

4) the H&M store is a wonderful boutique, which is considered not only perfect place for shopping, but also a place to discover beautiful architecture. Here you can buy: chic dresses, original swimwear, beautiful jewelry and much more.

5) Boutique "66" - the best place for shopping for real fashionistas, since it is in this store that you can buy clothes from new collections of world couturiers.

Restaurants on the Champs Elysees

On the popular boulevard, you can not only take a fruitful walk, but also have a delicious meal. You can do this in restaurants with excellent french cuisine:
– Laduree is a wonderful patisserie with gourmet cakes, chocolate, different types cookies.
– l’Ecluse will be able to please its guests not only with author’s dishes from the best chefs, but also provides an opportunity to taste the best French wines.
— Restaurant 39V is one of the most romantic restaurants in Paris. Such an atmosphere is provided by a unique interior, a chic terrace, picturesque views from the windows and, of course, delicious dishes.

In addition to shops and restaurants, you can visit wonderful events on the Champs Elysees. It is on this boulevard that National holidays, military parades and other significant events for France, which are accompanied by concerts, processions of citizens and an entertainment program.