Arc de Triomphe



The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly the Place de l'Étoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The arch honours those who fought for France, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, and today also includes the tomb of the unknown soldier.

In 1806, Napoleon I conceived of a triumphal arch patterned after those of ancient Rome and dedicated to the glory of his imperial armies. The structure was designed by Jean François Thérèse Chalgrin (1739-1811) and completed in 1836 during the reign of Louis Philippe. Its deceptively simple design and immense size, 49.5 m (162 ft) in height, mark it unmistakably as a product of late 18th-century romantic neoclassicism.

Inside the Arch there is a small museum documenting its history and construction.

Champs Élysées



The Champs Élysées is the most prestigious and broadest avenue in Paris. Its full name is actually «Avenue des Champs-Élysées». With its cinemas, cafes, and luxury specialty shops, the Champs Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world. The Élysées is known as La plus belle avenue du monde («The most beautiful avenue in the world»).

The Champs Élysées were originally fields and market gardens, until 1616, when Marie de Medici decided to extend the garden axis of the Palais des Tuileries with an avenue of trees.

The avenue runs for 2 kilometres (1.25 miles) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with its obelisk, to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe.

Le Grand Palais



The Grand Palais ("Grand Palace") is a large glass exhibition hall that was built for the Paris Exhibition of 1900. From the Pont Alexandre III you can clearly see the impressive glass roof of the Grand Palais.

The Grand Palais was build at the same time as the Pont Alexandre III, in 1900 and is an impressive example of early 20th century Art Nouveau.

A little known fact is that the Grand Palais has a major police station in the basement which helps protect the exhibits on show.

Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt or Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau.

La Madeleine



Started in 1764 during the reign of Louis XV, and designed by Constant d'Ivry using plans based on the St-Louis-des-Invalide Church, it was razed by a second architect to who favored a design modeled after the Panthéon. However this second design was not well accepted either, and all work ceased between 1790 and 1806.

Napoléon then decided that a Temple of Glory to his Grande Armee should be built, and Pierre-Alexandre Vignon was commissioned to draw up the plans. After razing the remaining efforts from 1790, building started on what was to be a Greek temple. The commemorative role of the edifice was lost when the Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1808, and again the focus of the structure became ambiguous.

The Madeleine is built in the Neo-Classical style. Inside, the church has a single nave with three domes over wide arched bays, lavishly gilded in a decor inspired as much by Roman baths as by Renaissance artists.

Today the Madeleine is affiliated with a Benedictine abbey, and masses and the most fashionable weddings in Paris are still celebrated here.

Metro: Madeleine

Source: Wikipedia, http://www.paris.org

Le Petit Palais



It was built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900 by architect Charles Girault, it now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris.

Arranged around a pretty semi-circular courtyard and garden, the palace is similar to the Grand Palais. Its ionic columns, grand porch and dome echo those of the Invalides across the river.

Lido



Le Lido is a cabaret and burlesque house on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, famous for its exotic shows, which rival those of Las Vegas and where, as an American GI on leave with some army friends, Elvis Presley gave an impromptu concert.

Formal attire is requested. Jacket and tie is appreciated. No casual clothes such as jeans, tennis shoes, or sportswear.

Official web site: www.lido.fr

Palais Elysées



The Elysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, where the president's office is located, and the Council of Ministers meets.

The Elysee has large gardens, in which the president hosts a party on the afternoon of Bastille Day.

The architect Armand-Claude Mollet possessed a property fronting on the road to the village of Roule, west of Paris (now the Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré), and backing onto royal property, the Grand Cours through the Champs-Élysées. He sold this in 1718 to Henri-Louis de la Tour d'Auvergne, comte d'Évreux, with the agreement that Mollet would construct an hôtel particulier for the count, fronted by an entrance court and backed by a garden. The Hôtel d'Évreux was finished and decorated by 1722, and though it has undergone many modifications since, it remains a fine example of classic Régence style.

Place de la Concorde



The Place de la Concorde is one of the major squares in Paris, France. It is located at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.

It was built by architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel in 1763 to celebrate the glory of the then almighty king Louis XV, it saw the beheading of his successor and grandson Louis XVI on January 21st 1793 during the French revolution.

The center of the Place is occupied by a giant Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II. It once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple. The viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, offered the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk to France in 1831.

Place Etoile



The Place de l'Étoile is a large road junction in Paris, the meeting point of twelve straight avenues (hence the name "Star Square") including the Champs-Élysées which continues to the east. It was renamed Place Charles de Gaulle in 1970 in honor of President de Gaulle, but is still largely referred to by its original name.

The place lies in the middle of the Axe historique and at its centre stands the Arc de Triomphe.

Pont Alexandre III



Pont Alexandre III is an arch bridge that spans the Seine, connecting the Champs-Élysées quarter and the Invalides and Eiffel Tower Quarter. Most people consider the Pont Alexandre III the most beautiful bridge in Paris.

Construction of the bridge, designed by the architects Resal and Alby, took almost 3 years. It was first prefabricated in a factory and later transported and assembled by a large crane. One of the requirements for the bridge was that it should not obstruct the view on the Invalides and Champs-Élysées. This resulted in a very low 40 meters wide bridge with a single 107.5 meters long span and a height of only 6 meters.

Avenue Montaigne



Avenue Montaigne was first named the allée des Veuves (alley of widows) because women in mourning gathered there, but the street has changed much since those days of the early 18th century. The current name comes from Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, a writer of the French Renaissance.

Located on the strip, there are numerous stores specialising in high fashion, such as Dior, Chanel and Valentino, as well as jewellers like Bulgari and other toney establishment such as the Plaza Athénée hotel. Avenue Montaigne is now la grande dame of fashion.