Avenue des Champs-Élysées from Place de la Concorde

Looking east along the Champs-Élysées from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

The Champs-Élysées (pronounced /ʃɑ̃zelize/  ^audio literally the "Elysian fields") is a broad avenue in the French capital Paris. With its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops, the Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world. The name refers to the Elysian Fields, the kingdom of the dead in Greek mythology. Looking east along the Champs Elysees towards Place de la Concorde from the Arc de Triomphe. ... Looking east along the Champs Elysees towards Place de la Concorde from the Arc de Triomphe. ... Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place de lÉtoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. ... The International Phonetic Alphabet is a phonetic alphabet used by linguists to accurately and uniquely represent each of the wide variety of sounds (phones or phonemes) the human vocal apparatus can produce. ... To play the audio file do not click on the -image. ... This is Illyria, lady. ... An avenue can mean any of the following: Most commonly, it refers to two parallel lines of trees specially planted as a landscape feature. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Coffeehouse - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... This is Illyria, lady. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected legends of Greek gods and goddesses and ancient heroes and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ...

Description

The avenue runs 3 km through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, 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, and forms part of the line of the Axe historique. The 8e arrondissement is one of the 20 arrondissements of Paris, France. ... Place de la Concorde in 1885 Located at the foot of the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, the Place de la Concorde was designed by Jacques Ange Gabriel in 1755 as a moat-skirted octagon between the Champs-Élysées to the west and the Tuileries Gardens to the... For the obelisk punctuation mark, see dagger (typography). ... The Place de lÉtoile is a large Place in Paris, France, the meeting point of twelve avenues (hence the name Star Square) including the Champs_Élysées which continues to the east. ... Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place de lÉtoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. ... The Axe historique (historical axis) is a line of monuments, buildings and thoroughfares that run out from the centre of Paris, France, to the west. ...

One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Élysées is bordered by green space (Marigny Square) and by such buildings as the Théâtre Marigny and the Grand Palais (comprising the Palais de la Découverte). The Élysée Palace is a little bit to the north, not on the avenue itself. Farther up to the west, it is lined by cinemas, theaters, cafés and restaurants (most notably Fouquet's), and luxury specialty shops. The entrance to the Élysée Palace The hall of festivities during a CSCE conference. ...

History

The Champs-Élysées were originally fields and market gardens, until 1616, when Marie de Medici decided to extend the garden axis of the Palais des Tuileries with an avenue of trees. As late as 1716, Guillaume de L'Isle's map shows that a short stretch of roads and fields and market garden plots still separated the grand axe of the Tuileries gardens from the planted "Avenue des Thuilleries", which was punctuated by a circular basin where the Rond Point stands today, already with some planted avenues radiating from it that led to the river through woods and fields. In 1724, the Tuileries garden axis and the avenue were connected and extended, leading beyond the Place de l'Étoile; the "Elysian Fields" were open parkland flanking it, soon filled in with bosquets of trees formally planted in straight rank and file. To the east the unloved and neglected "Vieux Louvre" (as it is called on the maps), still hemmed in by buildings, was not part of the axis. In a map of 1724, the Grande Avenue des Champs-Elisée stretches west from a newly-cleared Place du Pont Tournant soon to be renamed for Louis XV and now the Place de la Concorde. Events Dirk Hartog lands on an island off the Western Australian coast Pocahontas arrives in England War between Venice and Austria Collegium Musicum founded in Prague Nicolaus Copernicus De revolutionibus is placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Roman Catholic Church Births May 24 - John Maitland, Duke of... Marie de Medici (April 26, 1573 - July 3, 1642), born in Italy as Maria de Medici, was queen consort of France under the French name Marie de Médicis. ... Up to 1871 the Tuileries Palace was a palace in Paris, France, on the right bank of the River Seine. ... An avenue can mean any of the following: Most commonly, it refers to two parallel lines of trees specially planted as a landscape feature. ... Events January 14 - King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne February 20 - The premiere of Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, takes place in London June 23 - Treaty of Constantinople signed. ... The Place de lÉtoile is a large Place in Paris, France, the meeting point of twelve avenues (hence the name Star Square) including the Champs_Élysées which continues to the east. ... Louis XV King of France and Navarre Louis XV (February 15, 1710 - May 10, 1774), called the Well-Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was king of France from 1715 to 1774. ...

The Champs-Élysées in 1890

By the late 1700s, the Champs-Elysées had become a fashionable avenue; the bosquet plantings on either side had thickened enough to be given formal rectangular glades (cabinets de verdure). The gardens of houses built along the Faubourg St-Honoré backed onto the formal bosquets. The grandest of them was the Élysée Palace. A semi-circle of housefronts defined the north side of the Rond Point. Queen Marie Antoinette drove with her friends and took music lessons at the grand Hôtel de Crillon on the Place Louis XV. The avenue from the Rond Point to the Etoile was built up during the Empire. The Champs-Élysées itself became city property in 1828, and footpaths, fountains, and gas lighting were added. Over the years, the avenue has undergone numerous transitions, most recently in 1993, when the sidewalks were widened. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Events and Trends The Bonneville Slide blocks the Columbia River near the site of present-day Cascade Locks, Oregon with a land bridge 200 feet high. ... The entrance to the Élysée Palace The hall of festivities during a CSCE conference. ... Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France and Archduchess of Austria (born November 1755 – executed 16 October 1793) Daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of Louis XVI and mother of Louis XVII. She was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution. ... The Hôtel de Crillon, located on the foot of the Champs-Élysées at No. ... The First French Empire, commonly known as the French Empire, the Napoleonic Empire or simply as The Empire, covers the period of the domination of France and much of continental Europe by Napoleon I of France. ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003) Events Media:January January 1 - Czechoslovakia divides. ...

Commerce

The Champs-Élysées (here seen from the Place de l'Étoile) are busy even in the late evening; cinemas, night clubs and restaurants attract a clientele. On the right, the Drugstore Publicis, open late, sells many wares, including upscale take-away food.

In 1860, the merchants along the avenue joined together to form the Syndicat d'Initiative et de Défense des Champs-Élysées, changed to an association in 1916 headed by Louis Vuitton to promote the avenue. In 1980, the group changed its name to the Comité des Champs-Élysées. It is the oldest standing committee in Paris. The committee has always dedicated itself to seek public projects to enhance the avenue's luxe atmosphere, and to lobby the authorities for extended business hours. Even today, the committee has approval over the addition of new business to the avenue. Download high resolution version (1296x972, 214 KB)The Champs-Élysées in Paris, at night, seen from the Place de lÉtoile. ... Download high resolution version (1296x972, 214 KB)The Champs-Élysées in Paris, at night, seen from the Place de lÉtoile. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Louis Vuitton (born August 4, 1821, died February 27, 1892) opened a luggage store in Paris in 1854. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Because of the high rents, few people actually live on the Champs-Élysées; the upper storeys tend to be occupied by offices. Rents are particularly high on the north side of the avenue, because of better exposure to sunlight. The splendid architecture of the grandiose "Champs-Elysées" is admired by many people. It is located right next to the Presidential palace with its rounded gate and the "Grand palais" that was erected in the late 19th century. While walking among the gardens and tree-lined promenades one could even encounter an open-air marionette theatre for children — a French tradition popular with the ages.

Events

Every year on Bastille Day, the largest military parade in France passes down the Champs-Élysées, reviewed by the President of the Republic. The Champs-Élysées is also the traditional end of the last stage of the Tour de France. Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on July 14th of each year. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... This article is about the cycle race. ...

External links

• Avenue des Champs-Elysées (http://www.insecula.com/salle/MS01196.html/)
• Barry Bergdoll, Columbia University: Paris maps (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/arthistory/courses/parismaps/)