Champs-Elysees

The Right Bank
Paris, France

Contributed by Project for Public Spaces

Paris' grand boulevard combines tremendous amounts of traffic, public transit, and tourism, while maintaining a distinct sense of Parisian urbanity at the pedestrian level.

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Why It Works

Stretching from the Place de la Concorde to the Place Charles de Gaulle, the Avenue des Champs-Elysees is a wide, heavily trafficked boulevard lined with cafes, theaters, and boutiques. The 2.6-mile promenade, punctuated by the Arc de Triomphe and the Obilisque, was the traditional site for the aristocracy to parade its wealth; even today, the action is on the sidewalk, and the most successful businesses are those that relate most closely to the action. Both the businesses and the pedestrians are celebrated by their placement on the most celebrated promenade in the world.

What Makes Champs-Elysees a Great Place?

Extra-wide sidewalks provide adequate space for cafes and vending. Continuity of trees and lighting scales down the expanse of the sidewalk. The alley of trees along the curb provides pedestrians with a buffer from the automobile traffic. There are few benches on the Champs Elysees but many outdoor restaurants and cafes have chairs facing the sidewalk. Outdoor seating enhanced by plantings, coverings, shade and color. Sidewalk amenities include colorful banners, cast-iron kiosks with displays, ornate street lamps, and interesting sidewalk patterns.

Most people walk on the north, sunny side, where there are more cafes, theaters, chain stores and boutiques. Fewer stroll on the south, where there is less sun and more banks and luxury restaurants. Activity does not decline after dark; the street is well-lit and takes on a new ambiance of nightlife.

History & Background

The prominence of the avenue gradually developed through the 17th and 18th centuries under a variety of kings and architects. It was conceived in 1610 to give King Louis XIV an impressive view from the Tuileries garden. First completed in 1774, in 1828 Napolean added footpaths, fountains, and gas lighting, and this boulevard, as well as many others, took on a monumental, processionary quality.

A 1994 restoration helped the boulevard regain some of its charm as a promenade. New street furniture was added, cars were diverted to side roads, the sidewalks were widened and improved, bollards were installed, parking problems were appeased by an underground garage, and the street's general appearance was improved with granite paving and double rows of trees. It is illegal to stop or park a car on the Champs Elysees but there is underground parking available (13 frs/hour, $2.50/hour).

Contact Info:

Office of Tourism, 127 ave des Champs Elysees: 011 331 49 52 53 54

User Comments:

> Add your own comment about Champs-Elysees

12/18/03 Patty Donovan said:: I visited Paris 3 years ago and spent a lot of time on this street. Loved the stores and cafes and all the culture mixed in.
10/09/03 John Soldo said:: I went there.............it was fun
12/18/03 Kam Leong Heng said:: I was there 3 years ago for my honeymoon. It was great fun walking, shopping and simply watching people along the street. I could still remember lunching in a small park off the main street.
11/19/04 Chris Wood said:: I think the Champs-Elysees is a great place, but it is only fair to point out that the headline image of this article was taken during a fair held in 2003 to celebrate 150 years of railways in France. Visitors should not normally expect to see the main carriageway full of pedestrians rather than cars. Nor to see trains running up the side of the street. :-)
08/15/05 Kate Spaulding said:: The Champs-Elysees is one of the best shopping streets in the world. Not only do most of the stores stay open until 11pm (the Sephora until midnight!), but the clubs, restaurants, and cafes are even later. I wish this trend would catch on in the US, late night shopping would make the streets more safe and add to atmosphere. The Arc de Triomphe at one end and the Louvre gardens at the other, this street is essential to experiencing Paris. Simply sitting on some of the benches and watching the people pass by is fun, as well as popping into the famous designer flagship stores. The only drawback is the lack of shade, so be careful on really summery days.