Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris Will Be Forever Changed

By Aysia Reed

The Champs-Elysees in Paris is being transformed into a 1.2 mile long “extraordinary garden,” between now and 2030.

The famous thoroughfare will eventually be full of more people than cars, as well as gardens, walkways and other attractions.

Not far from the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees is a very busy avenue that is home to theatres, luxury shops, and cafes.

And it’s even the finish line for the famous Tour de France race–but it needs some revamping.

It’s an iconic landmark, but the avenue is begging for improvement as it’s full of cars and terrible for pedestrians.

The big project will consist of creating more green spaces, tunnels of trees, and increased walking areas for pedestrians.

This should results in improving air quality, and especially, removing as many vehicles from the street as possible.

An average of 3,000 motor vehicles are on the Champs-Elysees streets per hour, feeding into our planet’s pollution crisis.

That’s significantly more cars than roads surrounding the French capital has.

The extraordinary garden will help resolve this major concern by turning a traffic roundabout into the Étoile promenade, an eco-friendly public plaza.

More Eco-Friendly

The French firm’s main incentive is to make the Champs-Elysees avenue more ecologically friendly.

It will also improve revenues that have recently been lost due to the reduction of locals visiting the boulevard.

The Champs-Elysees extraordinary garden will span from the Arc de Triomphe, to the Place de la Concorde.

Parts of the extraordinary garden will be ready by 2024, just in time for the Summer Olympics being held in Paris.

The remainder of Champs-Elysees will be finished by 2030.

The whopping $250 million projects for the extraordinary garden were created by PCA-Stream, a French architectural firm.

Champs-Elysees Avenue History 

A gardener for Louis XIV Andre Le Notre was the mastermind behind the design of the Champs-Elysees avenue in 1667.

The name of the avenue was inspired by the Elysian Fields, a Greek afterlife.

In the 1700s, Champs-Elysees was a greatly populated destination to unwind and picnic.

Hopefully in 2024 visitors can again see the boulevard as a place for relaxation, instead of just a sea of cars.

A Special Boulevard

The boulevard also holds historical significance, due to their liberation from Germany in 1944, and the World Cup victories in both 1998 and 2018.

In current times, the Champs-Elysees remains a cherished place for all.

The Bastille Day Parade and Tour de France are both some of the significant special events that take place at the avenue today.

However, the boulevard has not had any renovations completely for over 25 years, and a special place calls for special treatment.

The area has fallen victim to economic issues, strikes, and the gilets Jaunes.

The Champs-Elysees is overdue for an upgrade, and the PCA-Stream is making it happen to create an enhanced environment.

The first area of renovation will begin on the public square at the tip of Champs-Elysees, the Place de la Concorde.

The Place de la Concorde will be the priority of the extraordinary garden project.

The remainder of the extraordinary garden will begin in 2030 after the Place de la Concorde is finished.

What Is There to Do Now?

The Champs-Elysees still has must-see attractions and lively adventures for travelers.

This should continue, even after the revamp project.

But what’s there now?

The Paris nightlife is an experience unlike any other, and Champs-Elysees is nothing short of restaurants and bars.

Along the boulevard are many Michelin-starred restaurants, ranging from Fouquet’s,  L’Atelier Étoile, and Pizza Pino.

Exclusive nightclubs are also on the avenue, and casinos for those who want a quick game of blackjack.

Visiting on Bastille Day is worth the trip.

On July 14th, the annual world-famous parade commences, where French flags are seen in every nook and cranny of Champs-Elysees.

The Champs-Elysees Film Festival showcases independent and American and French films for over a week, devoted entirely to cinemas.

If sporting events are more your speed, the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris takes place, and so does the Tour de France, which welcomes viewers.

Even though the Champs-Elysees is not yet revamped, a simple stroll along the streets of the exemplary French avenue is worth a while.

Enjoy a bike ride, picnic (like one in the 1700s!), or walk while appreciating the brilliance of the avenue design.

Take in the historical significance that the Champs-Elysees beholds.