Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées

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Location

Paris
France
48° 52' 25.6116" N, 2° 17' 42.0936" E
FR
General info: 

With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Champs-Élysées is arguably one of the most famous streets in the world. Along with that, it is also one of the most expensive strips of real estate in the world. There are several French monuments on the street, including the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde.

The Champs-Élysées avenue begins at the Place de la Concorde, a square with a massive Egypt obelisk in the middle. The street’s ending point is the 50 meters tall Arc de Triomphe. At the time when it was built, the Arc de Triomphe was an architectural wonder. It honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. It was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Napoleon at the peak of his fortunes. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

Every year Tour De France finishes at Champs Elysees.

Getting there: 

The Champs-Élysées avenue stretches on almost 2 kilometers, in the 8th Paris arrondissement. The area is very well connected with the other parts of the city, so you can easily get to and away from here.

The closest metro station to Arc de Triomphe is Charles de Gaulle Etoile.

Costs: 

The Champs-Élysées is one of the most luxurious streets in the world. Don’t expect bargains here as the prices in all the venues around are very high.

Interesting places nearby

The skiing area of Sangiacomo stretches between the slopes of Monte Alpet (1600 m) and Bric Colmé (1300 m) offering good exposure to the sun, a splendid panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and, above all, 32 km of snow-covered runs

An old silver mining town famous for its 'Winterfest' celebrated since 1896. The main ski area at Mathias-Schmidt-Berg is accessed by two double chairlifts and is floodlit for night skiing with supporting snow-making.

The ski area Sankt Englmar offers well-groomed slopes for all levels of difficulty, cross-country ski runs and winter trails through the beautiful landscape of the low mountain range.

Pontresina is located in the highest-altitude valley that branches off from the Upper Engadine, and ascends from 1,777m to 1,860m above sea level.

Skiing for all standards including off-piste and a dedicated children's slope, apres ski in original villages of Rialp and Sort nearby. Skiercross and boardercross opened in 2006-7.

This ski area, close to the Cadi Moixero National Park in the Pyrenean foothills, was relatively unknown to visitors before the advent of the ski lifts. Now there are some lovely descents through wooded hillsides.