Champs-Élysées – is the name of one of the most famous and most beautiful boulevards of Paris. The length of the boulevard is almost 7 kilometers and it is 70 meters wide. The construction of the largest avenue in Paris started in the first decades of the 17th Century. The modern look of the Champs-Élysées was perfected during the second half of the 19th Century, during the period of re-planning of the city. The 2.5 kilometer segment passing from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe – a continuous row of beautiful and quite expensive stores and restaurants. Walk slowly along this part of Champs-Élysées, it's especially beautiful at night.
Initially this large region was a swamped region. After the swamps were dried out in 1667 André Le Nôtre designed a wide avenue, which received the name of Gran Cours (the region received its modern name in 1709). The region spread out from Tuileries gardens to the Place de L'Etoile, which is known today as Place Charles de Gaulle. At the beginning of the boulevard there is a famous sculptural group called Chevaux de Marly (Horse Tamers) by Guilllaume Coustou. Starting from here and all the way to Rond Point of Champs-Élysées, a walking park spreads out on both sides of the avenue. Following in the same direction we will be able to view the Théâtre Marigny (The Theater of the Ambassadors), The Pierre Cardin square, and on the left we can find the Restaurant Ledoyen, which dates back to the epoch of Ludwig XVI. On Clemenceau Square there is a bronze statue of the great politician who brought victory to France in 1918.
A wonderful perspective scenery opens up towards the Churchill Avenue with the Bridge of Alexander III and the Ensemble of the Invalids from afar. Along Churchill avenue you will find the Grand and Petit Palaces – both of huge proportion, featuring tall colonnades, frises, and sculptural groups. The palaces were built in connection to the World Fair of 1900 in Paris.
Rond Point of Champs-Élysées is a large round place (140 meters in diameter) – opens at the end of the walking esplanade of Champs-Élysées. To the right you can find the headquarters of the Figaro magazine, and on the left – the offices of Jour De France newspaper. A wide artery of sidewalks flows out from here (two sidewalks, each having 22 meters and a vehicle road 27 meters wide). Along this road there are office buildings of airline companies, banks, car dealers and exhibition centers. In addition this segment of the boulevard features three amazing galleries – the Boise Gallery of Art, Gallery de L'Arcade, and Gallery Point-Show.
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