In 1667 Louis XIV wanted to improve the view from the Tuileries garden, and ordered his gardener André Le Nôtre to create the Champs-Elysées Avenue. This was the beginning of the most beautiful avenue in the world. At the end of the 18th century, the avenue was lengthened, 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. If you are there in July don’t miss the Military Parade as well as the end of “Le Tour the France” the most famous cycling race in the world.
This avenue has some of the most amazing designer boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Chain shops like Abercrombie & Finch, Gap, Apple, Disney, McDonald's are all here as well as the old timers like Fouquet's, Galimard and Laduree. Don’t miss the car showrooms of Citroen, Peugeot and others where you can see their old and new cars. Oh, there is also a shop for Paris Saint-Germain.
More information about Champs-Elysées Avenue on www.champselysees-paris.com/
Have a break in one of the many Cafes and restaurants on the Avenue de Champs-Elysées or Shop in Le Triangle d'Or
The heart of the European luxury fashion business lies without doubt in the triangle formed by Avenue Montaigne, Avenue des Champs Elysées and Avenue Georges V.
Don’t miss Louis Vuitton Cultural Space
Various exhibitions of contemporary art, take place in the Louis Vuitton Cultural Space, just around the corner of the Louis Vuitton major store on Champs Elysees.
60 rue Bassano
Paris 8th Tel +33 (0) 1 53 57 52 03 Website www.louisvuitton-espaceculturel.com
Open from Monday to Saturday from 12h to 19h Sundays from 11h to 19h
Then head over to Avenue Montaigne; the list of brand names is unbeatable: Bottega Veneta, Marni, Chloé, Chanel, Dior , Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, Giorgio Armani, Ungaro, Pucci, Gianfranco Ferré, Gucci, Krizia, Loewe, Akris, Loro Piana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nina Ricci, Jimmy Choo, Prada and many more.
Métro: Alma Marceau (9), George V (1)
Copyright © 2010-3010 ToParisToday.com · All Rights Reserved Contact Us on: mail@ToParisToday.com
Avenue de Champs-Elysées area guide
Start with The Arc de Triomphe - Photo opportunity
The rooftop platform of the Arch de Triomphe, offers some of the best views in Paris. Go for sunset, when you can see all of the lights from the Grande Arche in La Defense to the Obelique at the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre Pyramide.
Continue down the Avenue and you’ll reach
Grand Palais
3, avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
Grand Palais will close its doors from December, 2020 to the fall of 2024. It will temporarily relocate to the base of the Eiffel Tower at the beginning of 2021. See more on the Paris Olympics 2024
Website www.grandpalais.fr
Located in the heart of Paris on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, The Grand Palais is the iconic monument of Paris. It was built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900 and dedicated “by the French Republic to the glory of French art”. Throughout the year it organizes many exhibitions. Check out their website of what’s on at the time you are in Paris.
Petit Palais-Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris
Avenue Winston Churchill, 8th, M° Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau
Website www.petitpalais.paris
This beautiful building, is a left over from the 1900 Universal Exposition. It is filled with the greatest paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and ancient statues. After Louvre, this museum should be on anybody’s list. Flemish Old Masters from the 17th century—Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Rubens and Corot, Courbet, Dealcroix, Géricault, Ingres, Monet, Manet, Cézanne, and Renoir from the 19th century are all here.
The best part is that it’s free and not crowded.
A real treat
Café Le Jardin du Petit Palais
Between culture and pleasures of the table, this terrace in the heart of the museum is still unknown to Parisians. This haven offers a menu that is both simple and original, a high quality food for a tasty snack or lunch. You can even check your emails (free WiFi).
It's not easy to find a calm and inexpensive café on the Champs Elysées, so this modern tearoom hidden inside the art nouveau-era Petit Palais (Municipal Fine Arts Museum) is a real find.
Located between the Champs-Elysées and the Seine, across from the Grand Palais, simply enter the Petit Palais (free entry to the permanent collection), and follow signs to the café (entrance is through the mosaic-tiled garden).
Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Petit Palais - Musée des Beaux Arts
Avenue Winston Churchill, 8th.
Palais de la Découverte
Palais de la Découverte
Av. Franklin-D.-Roosevelt, 8th
M° Champs Elysées-Clemenceau or Franklin-D.-Roosevelt
Palais de la Découverte was founded in 1937 with the intention of making people aware of the scientific method. You can experiment and understand the basic laws of physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, medicine, and information technology. Don’t miss a collection of original designs by the master Leonardo da Vinci.
The highlight of the Palais de la Decouverte is its Planetarium, which has a cycle of eight shows on different space-related themes, including the solar system, stars and galaxies, and eclipses. You can view the entire Planetarium schedule on their website. One thing to keep in mind about the Palais de la Decouverte is that most of their expositions and shows are in French only.
Arc de Triomphe
Address
place Charles de Gaulle, 8e
Getting there
Metro: Charles de Gaulle–Étoile
More information
Opening hours
10am-11pm Apr-Sep, to 10.30pm Oct-Mar
There is an elevator to get to the rooftop, but only for travelers with disabilities and parents with infants. Otherwise, you need to take the stairs.
Safety
To reach the Arch, you need to take the underground passage, which looks like a Metro entrance on the Avenue du Champs-Elysées Do not attempt to run across the intersection.