History and facts on Champs-Elysées in Paris

The project to build a large avenue in the perspective of the Louvre Palace was initiated by Lenotre, the designer of the Versailles park, in 1667.

This avenue was named the Champs-Elysées in 1709. In the ancient Greek mythology, the Champs-Elysées were the place where heroes went to after their death.

The Champs-Elysées are 2 kilometers long and 80 meters wide.

With the Avenue de la Grande Armée (on the other side of the Arc de Triomphe), they represent altogether a 7 kilometers straight perspective from the Concorde square to La Défense business district, west from Paris.

The animation on the Champs-Elysées was at its top at the end of the 19th century and during the first half of the 20th century. 

"Les Champs", as they are called in French, were then very fashionable and luxurious with famous restaurants, stores and hotels. They then acquired a worldwide reputation.

After a period of decline, the Champs-Elysées were nicely renovated at the end of the 1980th. They got back their attractiveness as the place to go to, walk along and do shopping.

Find  and book a hotel near Champs-Elysées, a great Paris district to stay in