Considered by many the most beautiful in the world, the
avenue of the Champs-Elysées is an immense and prestigious
artery, its footpaths crammed with people from all over the world at
all times of the day or night. Stretching from the Arc de Triomphe down
to the Tuilerie Gardens the Champs-Elysées is a pleasure to
descend on foot, the northern footpath being the preferred side to do
so. Luxury stores such as Louis Vuitton, cinemas, famous restaurants
(Fouquet’s, Le Nôtre), grand automobile showrooms (Mercedes,
Peugeot, Citroen), the perfumery Guerlain, the Paris Office of Tourism
(no. 127), Virgin Megastore, the Disney and Swatch Stores all exist
side-by-side here on the world’s most expensice avenue. Traditionally
reserved for the prestigious military marches of July 14, the
Champs-Elysées has become the preferred location for spontaneous
nighttime gatherings, a trend started after France’s win in the 1998
World Cup, when hundreds of thousands took to the street here to
celebrate. Similar numbers can be found here each New Years’ Eve,
despite the cold, when cars are banned and revelers come together
embracing and drinking champagne to ring in the New Year.
