Lights on Avenue des Champs Elysées

Wednesday I went on top of Arc de Triomphe with my boyfriend to see when Audrey Tautou switches on the lights on Champs Elysées (well, not her, as we were upstairs, but the result). I thought it would be more crowded upstairs but it was bearable and we actually could see something. After some minutes it was practically empty up there so we could take some good ones. It's no big secret, our camera is not a professional one, so it's bit weak in the night. Anyway I think we have some nice material in the end. 


We want to make a stop-motion video - do you know any good jpg-avi converter program? I would post the result (just some seconds, this is our first one)!!

After we went downstairs to the avenue, taking some close shots of the lights and some windows, like Marks&Spencer which opened later that night with a big show. 

Avenue des Champs Elysées - fab, right?

that's me :) 

The Old Lady

 a sculpture inside Arc de Triomphe

there are four main sculptures on the monument, this one is La Résistance de 1814

La Paix de 1815

La Départ de 1792 (La Marseillaise) 

Le Triomphe de 1810 

from close

the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

you can get to the Arch under ground

from further

 the new Christmas lights

the south side

the lights change colors

they are eco-friendly LEDs, they will consume as much energy as 8 families during the holiday season (less than ever)

the new M&S store

lit also by LED 

winter arrived to H&M as well 

a polar bear is greeting us at Sephora


Later I'll visit the Christmas market as well..

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Triangle d'Or

Or the Golden Triangle.

In my previous post I spoke about my first shopping experience at Champs Elysées. What I was expecting to see back then is on the other side of the avenue. There is a geographical triangle on the north side of Champs Elysées, bordered by Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V. This is a prestigeous area with numberous world-famous luxury brands. We can also find hotels, restaurants and embassies here. The north side of Champs Elysées is more expensive as well, as it is the sunnier side, so people prefer it to the other.

Champs Elysées is the most expensive retail location in Europe according to Cushman & Wakefield’s annual „Main Streets Across the World” report and fifth most expensive in the world. In 2010 London’s New Bond Street took the first place, but last year’s new retailers on Avenue des Champs Elysées had an impressive effect. I walked near by the new Abercrombie & Fitch store several times and always noticed a huge queue of people on the street, waiting to get in. I was wondering if they are paid actors to attract people. Have you noticed, when a shop is empty, nobody goes in, but if there’s a crowd, (almost) everybody has an urge to see what is going on there?

As it is very popular among tourists, it is not à la mode for Parisians to be seen on Avenue des Champs Elysées on weekends. I don’t know about the rest of the triangle though. :)

What kind of shops can we find here?

To start with the French classics, on the corner of Champs Elysées and George V, there is the HQ of Louis Vuitton. It is a beautiful building with a big logo and a flag. And a queue outside, usually. Dior has a huge building on Avenue Montaigne, it is impressive, and actually they introduced the luxury to the avenue after the Second World War. Givenchy can be found on George V. Chanel has a boutique on Avenue Montaigne, though it is not their most important shop in Paris. The frontage of Hermès on Avenue George V is covered with elegant dark brown wood, I love it.

Louis Vuitton

Other major European brands are present on Avenue Montaigne. The Nina Ricci house is opposite of Dior, I find it very classy. Gucci and Dolce&Gabbana are closer to Champs Elysées. I like D&G’s window, it is huge and there are clothes hanging in different heights. My special favourite Spanish tanner, Loewe has a store on this avenue too. A Valentino shop can be found after the five-star Hotel Plaza Athénée, on the other side there is a Prada, close to La Seine.

Hermès

American jeweller Harry Winston has a shop on Avenue Montaigne. If you are shy to wander in, just like me, then there is not much to see, windows are small, with very few product in them. Well, these guys were not too shy for sure. Fortunately some of the stolen diamonds were found by the police later. 

Givenchy

Arc de Triomphe

Classic. Well, architecturally speaking it’s neoclassic. The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most visited monuments in Paris, built in the beginning of the 19th century in honor of the people fighting and dying for France during the French Revolutinary- and the Napoleonic wars. It is located in the western end of the famous Avenue des Champs Elysées, on the star-shaped Place Charles de Gaulle. You can get there by metro line 1, 2 and 6; RER A and bus lines 22, 30, 31, 52, 73 and 92.

From the top you can have a stunning view on the avenues starting from this point. It is one of the three famous arches of the city’s historical axis longing from the Louvre to the modern business district, La Défense.

Funny story. When I first visited the Arc de Triomphe in 2000, I was part of a tourist group, therefore my freetime was limited. It was more of a let’s-visit-the-museums-and-churches type of tour, but I - being a 16-year-old girl - was also quite interested in the famous Avenue de Champs Elysées. I desperately wanted to own any kind of clothing from this shopping area. Unlucky for me, I had no clue at that time which way should I run to get my trophy. I had 10 minutes! Arc de Triomphe was behind me, I chose to go to the left, as I didn’t really find anything in the beginning of the avenue. Of course, this is the investment banking area. I was quite disappointed. Finally I found a shop, took the first purple knitted gilet (vest) I saw, paid for it quickly and ran back to our bus. It was good size, and in the end I was a very happy owner of a real French garment from the Champs Elysées. :)