Les Champs-Elysees

par John McGlenn

L’avenue de Champs-Elysees est la plus belle avenue du monde. L’Arc de Triomphe est à  la fin de L'Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Dans la Tour de France, les cyclists roulent à velo sur L'Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Il y a beaucoup de magasins et de restaurants. L'Avenue des Champs-Élysées est deux kilometers. En 1670 L'Avenue des Champs-Élysées a été créer.

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           Before 1616 Avenue des Champs-Élysées was just fields and small markets, but thanks to Marie de Medici, the second wife of King Henry IV, trees were planted near the street. These trees extended the already existing garden called Palais des Tuileries. By 1724 the avenue and the garden were connected, and by the late 1700’s the avenue became more a fashionable place. It wasn’t until 1828 that the avenue became official property of Paris, with lighting, fountains, and footpaths added to the already popular location. Surprisingly enough, the sidewalks weren’t added until 1994. Now Avenue des Champs-Élysées has become a very popular spot with many stores and other retailers located on it.

            Few people live on the Champs-Élysées because of the price to rent a place can cost $1.5 Million for 1000 square feet. That is $1,500 per square foot! Aside from the people who live there, many many people visit the popular avenue when visiting France because the highly ranked retail stores. Luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, or more general stores such as Adidas and Nike, it also acquires the largest Gap store in all of Europe. Many hotels are also located on the avenue and prices per room on a standard hotel on this highly crazed avenue is only imaginable. Because of the upscale atmosphere on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, many events have been held or are annually held there.

            The celebrations that are held or have been held on this popular avenue just add to how special Avenue des Champs-Élysées has become. The biggest military parade held in all of Europe takes place on this special avenue. It is called Bastille day which commemorates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille Fortress Prison during the French Revolution. As I said in my earlier paragraph, the Tour de France’s last stage always ends on the Champs-Élysées, where the races go up and down the avenue several times before coming to a usually exciting finish. Avenue des Champs-Élysées has coined the spot of being the place to celebrate certain events. New Year’s Eve is one example of when many people gather on the avenue, also when France won the 1998 Fifa World Cup.

Sources: "Champs-Élysées." Wikipedia. 24 Mar. 2009. The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Mar. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champs-Élysées>.

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