Paris

Champs-Élysées  

Champs-Élysées is one of the most beautiful places all over the world. Few other streets in the world can be compared to its charm. If you live in a small city, you’ll agree with me that Champs-Élysées is what you deeply desire : a “ magic place ” that makes you feel in the very center of the earth. What makes this place magic? So, first of all, champs- élysées is a extra-long boulevard ( this street is best known as AVENUE DES CHAMPS - ÉLYSÉES ) indeed it extends for 2 kilometers from the Place de la Concorde to the Place Charles De Gaulle ( Place de l’Etoile ).This street lies in the 8^th Arrondissement : Paris is divided into 20 arrondissement,  a kind of administrative district and this one is situated in Paris northwestern area. What makes this street unique is the Parisian charm but you can find lots of shops and luxury boutiques, typical cafes, bistrot ( with seats on the huge sidewalks ) and theaters too. Moreover the “quality“ of this place is  guaranteed by rows of trees that extends along the whole street. Don’t forget that we are talking about one of the most expensive place in the world! Champs-Élysées means also lots of people from all over the world : here, people from all the countries go for a walk all together , creating a unique mix of different nationalities. Being here makes you feel a world citizen, surrounded by the flash-lights of the tourists. These are the reasons why this place is  so popular and so unique at the same time.

Even if there is a lot of traffic and chaos, tourists that go there are surrounded by wonderful attractions : l’ Arc de Triomphe ,the Obelisk Of Luxor, the  Tuileries Gardenand the Grand Palais. Moreover, Champs-Élysées lead to other streets : for instance,  Avenue Montaigne,  which is a luxury street where you can find expensive boutiques of world’s most beautiful fashion designers.

This big street is also well connected with other Paris’ areas  : the Métro joins very well each part of this city, and probably is the favourite transportation system both for tourists and residents . Instead, for people who doesn’t want to take public transportation, there is  underground parking available.

For what concerns its historical background , this street extended and developed through the years ( 17^th and 18^th centuries ) : first of all it was planned by architect Le Notre to continue the Axe of the Tuileries Garden ( to give a wonderful view from the Tuileries Palace too ). Champs-Élysées are the first step of the creation of the so-called Axe Historique, wich is a “line” of Buildings, streets and Monuments that runs through Paris. This street take its name from Greek Mythology : “Elysian Fields “ is the place of the blessed dead.

So, this street of trees gradually became a popular avenue : Queen Marie Antoinette used to take music lessons at the Hotel de Crillon  and go for a walk with her friends. Nowadays is one of the world’s greatest places, a place people tell stories about, a place people keep inside their memory.

Gabriella Casoria