Champs-Elysees (Avenue des Champs-Élysées)

The Champs-Elysees (shawn zay-lee-ZAY) is a very famous street that runs between the Arc de Triomphe and Place De La Concorde. It’s name means ‘of the Elysian Fields’ (a mythical Greek heaven for heros).

This tree-lined street is chock-a-block full, from end-to-end with shops and cafes. While the Champs-Elysees can be bit touristy, this 2 miles (3km) is still one of the most famous streets in the world where you’ll find national and international companies with shops to showcase and sell their products.

The Champs-Elysees is where Parisians (the name for people who live in Paris) have their BIG celebrations. From the Bastille Day Military Parade (July 14 is France’s National Day) to New Year’s Eve to the finish line for the Tour de France bike race.

To enjoy the whole street, we recommend walking along one side of the Champs- Elysees up toward the Arc de Triomphe and walking back down the other side of the road toward the Tuileries Garden.

Along the Champs-Elysees also visit:

Grand Palais – Is the beautiful domed building built for 1990 l’Exposition Universelle. There’s a science museum and planetarium, Palais de la Découvate, in one wing.

Jardins des Champs-Élysées – The Garden of the Champs-Elysées is along the Champs-Elysées Avenue between the Place del La Concord (the area with the tall Egyptian obelisk and fountains).

Place de la Concorde – This square features a giant Egyptian obelisk and two huge fountains. The Luxor obelisk was given to Paris by the ruler of Egypt and Sudan in 1826. While very pretty now – this was once where criminals and bad guys were hung and the guillotine was used. Yikes!