Discover the Secrets of Paris: Top 13 Fun Facts About the Iconic Champs-Élysées

1. Monopoly Mansions to Luxury Mall

Before Champs-Élysées took the crown as the ultimate mall-walker's paradise, it was a vivid game of Monopoly where the crème de la crème of Parisians lived out their real estate dreams: This famed avenue was once adorned with elite mansions and manicured gardens, including the Hôtel d'Évreux where none other than Napoleon's wife, Josephine, resided, but as Paris expanded its horizons in the 19th century, Champs-Élysées transformed into a mecca of luxury shopping, theaters, and restaurants enjoyed by locals and globe-trotting shoppers alike.
Source => introducingparis.com

2. Fashionistas, Warriors, and Cyclists Unite

Who says shopping can't be intimidating? At the Champs-Élysées, you'll find more than just the latest couture, with an occasional side of military might and bicycle tire tracks to boot: Every Bastille Day, the avenue witnesses Europe's largest military parade, followed by the Tour de France's grand finale since 1975, making this iconic street a multi-purpose haunt for fashionistas, warriors, and cyclists alike.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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3. Swapping Marsh for High-Class Garden

If the Champs-Élysées swapped its chic cafes for some muddy boots and vegetable patches, it would be a fitting tribute to its soggy past: once steeped in marshland and kitchen gardens, it was Louis XIV's gardening guru André Le Nôtre that transformed it into the elm-laden Grand Cours, and today's plans aim to create "an extraordinary garden" with pedestrian-friendly spaces, tree tunnels for superior air quality, and a peppering of approximately 2,000 trees that have the occasional "wild hair" day.
Source => theguardian.com

4. Pimp My Showroom: French Edition

Who needs Pimp My Ride when you have the French touch on the Champs Elysees? The car showrooms there take things to a whole new level, making Xzibit proud: Peugeot once displayed a car model decked out with tapestry-lined dining room chairs, Toyota showcased a customizable holographic car, and Renault dazzled visitors with futuristic cars you may never see on the streets. Gearheads and design fanatics can even score souvenirs like model cars and shirts from gift shops – très chic!
Source => tripadvisor.com

5. Galeries Lafayette: A Shopaholic's Paradise

Did you know there's a paradise on Champs-Elysées for shopaholics who want to shop 'til they drop, but also get a taste of the high life? I mean, literally taste the high life: Galeries Lafayette at 60 Champs-Elysées caters to the fashion-forward crowd with over 600 brands, 300 designers, and an in-house restaurant called Citron, all under a stunning Art Deco roof redesigned by Bjarke Ingels. So, buckle up for a shopping spree like never before, and don't forget to bring your diva A-game as personal stylists are also at your service!
Source => parisdigest.com

6. Velo'd Hero of the Tour de France

Riding into the sunset like a Velo'd Hero, Tour de France cyclists clink glasses of bubbly amid the clatter of rubber on cobblestones, as they indulge in a truce along the world's most dashing finish line: In a tradition since 1975, the Champs-Élysées plays host to the thrilling, highly anticipated final stage of the infamous Tour de France, boasting a 6.8km circuit lap with few incidents, ensuring an ever-exciting and safe end to this iconic sporting event.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Octopus Party Planner: Champs-Elysées Edition

Who knew that Paris' most fashionable avenue was also an octopus-themed party planner: why, the Champs-Elysées has spread its tentacles through the city, as it intersects with a dozen streets and forms a star at the Place de l'Etoile, also known as Charles-de-Gaulle! In all seriousness: The Champs-Elysées is an integral part of the city's 8th business district and is primarily famous for its high-end shopping and businesses.
Source => parisouest-sothebysrealty.com

8. Champs-Elysées' Sky-High Christmas Memories

Once upon a time, the Champs-Elysées Ferris wheel believed it could touch the sky while whispering sweet nothings to the Arc de Triomphe: Back in the day, the Champs-Elysées hosted a 65-meter high Ferris wheel on the Place de la Concorde, offering breathtaking views of Paris during Christmas time until 2017, and now exists alongside captivating Christmas lights, drawing over 26 million visitors annually.
Source => frenchmoments.eu

9. Le Fouquet's: A Celeb's Tastiest Haven

If Hollywood stars went cuckoo for French cuisine, they'd flock to the nest of Le Fouquet's: since 1899, this ritzy eatery nestled in the chic 8th Arrondissement of Paris has been satisfying celebrity cravings for fine dining under the watchful gaze of the Arc de Triomphe, while offering breathtaking terrace views of designer stores like Louis Vuitton and Hermès.
Source => tripadvisor.com

10. Float-ville Goes Military in France

Step aside, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - there's a new sheriff in Float-ville with some serious military muscle: The Champs-Élysées hosts the annual Bastille Day military parade, featuring 6,300 soldiers, 71 aircraft, 25 helicopters, 221 vehicles, and 200 horses of the Republican Guard, along with honoring Ukrainian troops and Eastern European countries as part of NATO's force.
Source => en.parisinfo.com

11. Art, Pleasure, and a Competitive Origin

Whoever said "you can't mix business and pleasure" clearly wasn't involved in the creation of the Grand Palais: this extravagant playground of steel, stone, and glass was crafted by a competitive team of architects for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, turning the fine arts into a full-blown architectural party on the Champs-Élysées.
Source => grandpalais.fr

12. A Romantic Paris Marathon Opening

They say the City of Love knows how to host a killer street party: the Paris Marathon begins on none other than the stylish Champs-Élysées, treating over 41,000 runners to breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral as they race through 26.2 miles of pure Parisian charm. Alas, no Formula One Race exhibition graced the famous avenue in 2017.
Source => bleacherreport.com

13. Parisian Landmark Power Couple: Eiffel Tower + Champs-Elysées

If the Eiffel Tower ever needs an elegant dinner companion, it couldn't look further than the Champs-Elysées – they're the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of Parisian landmarks, breaking hearts and taking names one romantic dinner cruise at a time: The Champs-Elysées is a popular destination for couples seeking swoon-worthy city views and fine dining, as they enjoy enchanting voyages like the Yacht de Paris Dinner cruise along the Seine River, reveling in the beauty of monuments such as Notre Dame and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Source => still-in-paris.com