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From the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elysées
This is an area that you should walk to fully experience. Take the Metro to
the Arc de Triomphe (the Charles De Gaulle Étoile stop), explore the Arc de
Triomphe and, then, walk down
the Champs Elysées towards the Louvre (to the east). Don't attempt to dash
through the heavy traffic to reach the monument, as the French drivers may
not stop. Instead, head for the underground pedestrian access
available from the north side of the Champs Elysées.
Don't rush your
walk, take time to explore, as you will find interesting shops and numerous
street-side cafes. If the opportunity presents itself, come back at night when
the illuminated Arc de Triomphe is even more magnificent than during the
day.
(8th arrondissement) (R) -
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most memorable sights in Paris. The
monument is noted for its impressive size, which focuses attention on both
the Place Charles de Gaulle and the Champs Elysées. Built in the first half
of the 19th century, the Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor of the
victories of his Grand Armée.
Adorning the sides of the Arc are four dramatic friezes. The most
popular is known as La Marseilles
(actually named the Departure of Volunteers of '92 (photo below -left)).
The titles of the other friezes are "The Resistance", "Peace" (both by the same artist), and
"The Triumph". There is much detail in
each of the friezes and they are worth examining.
A memorial to the "Unknown Soldier" from World War I is found at the
monument's base where a soldier's body of unknown identity is entombed.
The grave is marked with an eternal flame commemorating all soldiers who
have died fighting for freedom.
For a modest fee you can take the 284 steps to the top of the arch for a good view
along the Champs Elysées and of the twelve Grand Avenues that converge at
the Arc. The view to the east (Louvre) is breathtaking and includes the
Place de la Concorde, The Tuileries and the Petit and Grand Palais. To the
west you can see the modernistic Grand Arch in La Defense. The viewing
platform is open from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. year round with the last
admission 30 minutes before closing.
The Place Charles de Gaulle was formerly known as Place l'Etoile or
"Place of the Evening Star" because of the shape formed by the twelve
streets radiating from its center. In addition, the Place
l'Etoile and its twelve grand boulevards were part of Baron Haussmann's
vision for modernizing Paris and were converted to their present form
in the mid-19th century, destroying much of the heritage of Paris in the
process.
(8th arrondissement) (R) –
This broad avenue extends from the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de
l'Etoile) and its Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. A great
street for walking and getting into the mood of Paris, this pleasant,
tree-lined avenue has wide sidewalks, mostly touristy stores and numerous
restaurants.
If you are going to be in Paris for the first time, stop at one of the sidewalk cafes for a
drink or a meal. Yes, it is touristy, but for most of us this street is our
introduction to the City of Light.
The Champs Elysées (specifically the section near the Arc de Triomphe is one of the world's most famous streets and the sum of
its parts stamp it as a distinctly French grand avenue. Other than exploring
the Arc de Triomphe up close, the main attraction of the Champs Elysées is
the street itself, its crowds, its shops and the ambiance that it radiates.
Further east, the Champs Elysées passes the Palais de l'Elysée (
 north side
of the street), which is the residence of the President of the Republic of
France. On the south side are the stately Petit Palais and Grand Palais
(noted for its curved, glass roof
),
two attractive buildings that were constructed for the International
Exposition in 1900. The Petite Palais is now the home of the Musee Des Beaux Arts of the City of Paris.
If you are a shopper, there is a lot to sample in this area. The Triangle
d'Or (the triangular area surrounded by Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V and Rue
François 1er
) has
shops that include almost every well-known name in Paris fashion, (Vuitton,
Hermès, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Rochas, Courreges,
Balmain, Mugler, etc,) as well as
many other delightful shops.
Also in this area is the Famous luxury Hotel George V (
George Cinq - pronounced "sank") is located at 31 avenue George V, near the intersection
of Rue Pierre Charron. The George V is the preferred hotel of movie stars (Shia
LaBeouf, Charlize Theron, Hugh Grant, etc.) and other entertainers (Mariah
Carey, Kylie Minogue, etc.).
More shopping can be found along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré (
near the Palais de l"Elysées )
The
Boulevard Haussmann, which changes into the Avenue de Friedland and runs into
the Place Charles de Gaulle, marks yet another important shopping area whose
main attractions are the Grand Magasins, the famous department stores of
Paris. Note
that the main shopping area along Boulevard Haussmann is to the east near
Rue de Rome.
See our section on
Central Paris
for more details on the Grand Magasins.
(8th
arrondissement) (R) –
One great way to see central Paris is to take a cruise of the Seine on one
of the large tourist boats dedicated to sightseeing. Tourist boats ply the
Seine day and night and offer the best views of many of the city's grand monuments
The most popular boats are those known as Bateaux-Mouches. The name Bateaux-Mouches,
while used in many travel books to describe "tourist boats", is actually a
trademark of the Compagnie Bateaux-Mouches, whose boats dock on the Right
Bank between Pont de l'Alma and Pont des Invalides.
You can reach this area from the Champs Elysées by taking either Avenue
George V or Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt south to the Seine. The Bateaux-Mouches are tiered boats
and feature both open-top and enclosed viewing areas. All are equipped with
recordings that announce the monuments as you pass them.
Yep, the cruises are touristy, but if this is your first time in Paris, cough up the
Euros
for a night cruise. Though attractive by daylight, the monuments are
extraordinarily beautiful when illuminated. You will find the view of Paris
from the Seine to be worth every penny. You can find more information at
http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/ or
www.vedettesdeparis.com
For other attractions in Paris, see our menu
on the right.
Alternatively, it you want to find out about a specific attraction
and know its name, look for it in our
Index of the Best Places To Visit in Paris.
If you need to find information about another travel destination, try
Googling our site or the Web
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