Paris – Champs Elysées - 8me

Plate LXXI1I – Champs Elysees

The most famous street in the world? Perhaps.

The Elysian Fields - what a name to live up to. From Elysium in Greek mythology it is the place where humans, offered immortality by the gods were sent. A place where perfect happiness was attained on the banks of the Oceanus River. Well let’s settle for the Seine, and walking down this avenue or settling into a chair in one of the boulevard cafes, my feeling of happiness was as close to perfect as I’ve known.

With rentals reputed to be set at around ten thousand euros per square metre it certainly has the most expensive real estate in all of Europe. Although many international names have opened retail operations along the avenue, and cinemas showing the latest international releases are to be found, it remains essentially French - and très, très chic. Part of the historical axis of the city the avenue, usually referred to simply as the Champs Elysées, runs almost 2 kilometres from the Place de la Concorde in the east to the Place Charles de Gaulle (Étoile) and the Arc de Triomphe to the west, offering upmarket shopping and famous entertainments such as the Bluebell Girls of the Lido, and the picture perfect beaux art decorated tearoom of the Lido Arcade.

The scene of many military processions, it was along the Champs Elysées that the Germans infamously marched in grand display of their occupation of France in June 1940, and it was here too that the French and American troops led by General Charles de Gaulle victoriously celebrated the liberation of the city in August 1944. The annual Bastille Day Parade is held here each 14th July, and the world famous Tour de France cycle race sees its final stage along the avenue. Most occasions of any national significance will be celebrated by a gathering here, with visiting international dignitaries being welcomed by bunting and flags in their national colours alongside the tricolore decorating the staffs along the way.

As Maurice Chevalier used to sing ... Ah! Champs Elysées, Champs Elysées …