Avenu des Champs Elysees Paris |
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The Avenue des Champs-Élysée stretches for two kilometres (1.25 miles) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with the Obelisk of Luxor, to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe, built by Napoleon Bonaparte to honour his victories. Near the Place de la Concorde, the street is bordered by the Jardins des Champs-Elysées, beautifully arranged gardens with fountains and some grand buildings including the Grand and Petit Palais at the southern side and the Elysée Palace at its northern side. The Elysée Palace has been the residence of the French Presidents since 1873. In 1616 Marie de Medicis decided to create a long tree-lined avenue going east from the Tuileries. The route was redesigned in 1667 by renowned landscape designer André Le Nôtre as an extension of the Jardins des Tuileries. The promenade was now called 'Grande Allée du Roule' or 'Grand-Cours'. Years later the promenade was renamed to 'Champs-Elysées', or Elysian Fields in English. The name was derived from Greek mythology where 'Elusia' is a place where heroes come to relax. In 1724 the Champs-Elysées was extended all the way to the Chaillot hill, now known as l'Etoile, the site of the Arc de Triomphe. Its current form took shape in 1838 when French architect Ignaz Hittorf, who was redesigning the Place de la Concorde, created the Jardins des Champs-Elysées. He also installed sidewalks, gas lamps and fountains. |
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