Champs Elysées, Paris

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... is what you'll find at the Champs Elysées, the big street in the middle of Paris center. In the beginning, when you just have left the park where the Louvre is, the street isn't anything. Just a couple of trees and benches.

But after a couple of hundred meters the shops and pubs starts to show up, and at the end you'll be full of impressions from your short walk up from the park to the Arc de Triumf.

And please, have a seat at one of the bars, take a beer, relax, look at all the people around you. And maybe speak to some of the beautiful girls at the table next to you...

And then, please again, don't get too chocked when you pay the beer, and understands it's the most expensive beer you have ever been drinking in your whole life...

It was at this street the french celebrated the victory in the WW1, the liberation in WW2, and the victory in the World Cup in football 1998... :)

It's probably the most famous street in the world. With a fabulous view of the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees or its full name, 'Avenue des Champs Elysees', is lined with cinemas, cafes, and luxury specialty shops; the most famous tenant is Louis Vuitton. The Champs-Elysees is also named "la plus belle avenue du monde" or "the most beautiful avenue in the world" in French.

Unless you carry a gold or platinum card with unlimited credit, you will probably do what I did, window shopping and taking photos. Nevertheless, it is a nice walk from one end (Place de la Concorde) to the other (Arc de Triomphe)

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The Champs-Élysées, literally means the "Elysian Fields", is a broad and busy avenue. Its full name is actually "Avenue des Champs-Élysées". It is one of the most famous streets in the world because of the cinemas, cafés, boutiques, designer brandnames and luxury specialty shops that line both side of the avenue. The name refers to the Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed in Greek mythology. The Champs-Élysées has been called La plus belle avenue du monde ("The most beautiful avenue in the world").

The avenue runs for 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with its Obelisk, to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. If you stand in the middle of the avenue, on the concrete island that divides the road, you can see the Arc de Triomphe on one end of the avenue, and the big Obelisk on the other end.

The Champs-Élysées is a great place for shopping and people watching. Just make sure when you get there, take great care of your wallets because you will be very tempted to shop till you drop! LOL...

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WHEN IN PARIS THE CHAMPS ELYSEES HAS TO BE HIGH ON YOUR LIST OF MUST DO'S. WITH THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE AT ITS SUMMIT THE CHAMPS ELYSEES IS ONE OF THE GREAT AVENUES OF THE WORLD AND A REAL FEAST FOR THE EYES..AND THE CREDIT CARDS.
FIRST CALLED THE GRAND COURS OR GREAT WAY IT WAS LATER RENAMED CHAMPS ELYSEES.
THIS WIDE TREE LINED AVENUE IS ALSO USED FOR MILATRY PARADES AND NOT FORGETTING THE FINISHING LINE FOR THE TOUR DE FRANCE. HERE ON THE AVENUE ALL THE MAJOR FASHION STORES HAVE OUTLETS SUCH AS GUCCI..LOUIS VUITTON AND PRADA TO NAME BUT A FEW.
THERE IS ALSO A MASSIVE VIRGIN MEGASTORE AND NIKE STORE PLUS A BRAND NEW ADIDAS PERFORMANCE STORE.. BUT ONE OF MY FAVOURITES IS A TRAVEL AGENTS WHICH HAS A GIANT AQUARIUM..A MUST SEE. IF YOUR FEELING PECKISH AND DONT WANT TO PAY BIG BUCKS TO HAVE LUNCH ON THE AVENUE YOU COULD TRY A GOOD OLD MACDONALDS.. THIS IS THE ONLY MACDONALDS IN THE WORLD WHERE THE FAMOUS GOLDEN ARCHES ARE WHITE.. SO WHEN IN PARIS MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A STROLL DOWN THIS LOVELY AVENUE AND DO A LITTLE FIVE STAR SHOPPING...OR IF YOURE LIKE MYSELF A LITTLE FIVE STAR DREAMING....HAVE FUN.

I suggest walking along the Champs-Elysees. It's filled with prestigous restaraunts and stores and right on the other end is the Arc De Triomphe. I can still remember walking down that tree-lined street singing "Champs-Elysees" by Joe Dassin.

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As the broad main street of a commercial city, the Champs-Elysées had a different genesis than most. It began in 1616 as an uphill carriage promenade allowing Marie de Medicis to extend her outings from the Cours de la Reine along the Seine. (all this was a rural adventure because the commercial Paris was on the Ile and adjacent banks). We come from one of the other rare cities with an overly wide main street (New Orleans-Canal Street) and are very sensitive to the effects of commercialism : its self-interests and neglects affecting the evolution of a civic structure. Luckily for the the C-E , it retained its playground origins into the 1800’s when Hittorf (1834) designed 4 English garden units (Carrees) below the Rond Point with only a select number of restaurants or theaters and a fountain in each (almost all remain) among the trees. There were two intrusions for the 1900 Exposition, the Grand and Petit Palais which have persisted. Appropriately these are venues for an art museum and fine special exhibits plus the Palais de la Decouverte wing of the G.P. But the lower leg of the Champs has kept encroachment away on the north, leaving only the upper part to the wiles of commerce. Of course the Arc at the top overpowers these uses of real estate and certain types of shopping and dining have their allure. In fact it is handy to have a McDonald’s close at hand when you need rehydration and stimulation after a long hot afternoon’s walk (where you can get the largest least expensive fountain Coke in France and a free clean restroom to boot).

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Probably this is the most popular street in paris, very charming, yet very touristy! I've been there in a christmas time when it was fully lit and lively with colours. Big brands and the french perfume stores are all mainly located over here!

Goodness! Once my friend and I were stopped by two tourists whom we thought to be beggars or thieves. They've asked to buy them Channel (or whatever) bag and wallets from the store. The store policy was not to sell two pieces of the same item. Imagine! They gave us 1500 euros!!! They didn't know us or asked for any guarantee! My friend and I could have just run away with this money and travel around France,lol. Got the sense how touristy is this place??

It's full of coffee shops and french crepe makers;) though pricy!

We met two french gentlemen, who came up from nowhere, who warned us not to walk late evening around this area and not to show we were 'very' tourists in every possible sense! Lucky enough they even showed us around;)

The road will be blocked and become pedestrian in the new year eve. Imagine!!! I just love this place when it's full of lights and it gives you easy access to Arc de Troimphe and everything around in Paris.

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Maybe the most welknown avenue in Europe, not only for the arrival place of the yearly Tour de France, the Military parades or the expensive shops
I was interested by a Peugeot dealer showing future cars - remembering Helga's dreams
No joke - Paris is famous for the Car Exhibitions, this next to the Frankfurt show and of course the BXL Carshow