Paris: Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe

The Champs Elysees and Les Champs-Elysées is the largest avenue in Paris (1880 meters long), and runs from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde.

The name comes from Elysian Fields of Greek mythology, which appointed the abode of the dead, reserved for virtuous souls, the equivalent of the Christian paradise. To access he had to drink in the river Lethe, which would make them forget their passage through hell.

The French are calling her the most beautiful avenue in the world ("la plus belle avenue du monde"). It is also considered the most famous avenue in the world and the most luxurious.

At the top of the avenue, which begins with the square "Charles de Gaulle" (formerly Place de l'Etoile, "place de l'étoile") are cinemas, luxury boutiques and department stores (including one dedicated to the music).

The lower the avenue leading to the Place de la Concorde (where executions were held), is surrounded by gardens and several public buildings are magnificent: The Palace of Discovery ("Palais de la Découverte"), the Petit Palais and the Grand Palace and the University of Paris IV.

The Champs Elysees is part of the historical axis of Paris, which extends through the Tuileries Gardens to get to the Louvre Museum.

On the opposite side of the Arc de Triomphe, the Avenue of the Grand Army and the Avenue Charles de Gaulle prolong the Champs Elysees. In the nineties it was built in the same shaft the Grande Arche, in the trendy district of "La Défense", one of the most important financial centers in the European Union along with Frankfurt.

The Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, is perhaps the most famous triumphal arch. It is located on the Place Charles de Gaulle, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. Formerly, the name of the square was Place de l'Etoile

Napoleon Bonaparte decided to build this bow after his victory in the Battle of Austerlitz (1805), after promising his men: "return home under triumphal arches". It was designed by Chalgrin, inspired by Roman architecture, and reaches a height of 49 meters and 45 wide. It has a statue in each of its four pillars:

• Le Triomphe (Triumph), 1810
• The Resistance (The Resistance)
• La Paix (The Peace)
• La Marseillaise (La Marseillaise)

On the outer sides of the arch are engraved the names of great revolutionaries and the military victories of Napoleon I. On the interior walls of the monument are inscribed the names of 558 French generals of the Empire.The names of those who died in battle are underlined.

Napoleon changed his mind at the last minute when making a monument in the Place de l'Etoile (Place de l'Étoile) because, at first the monument that was built was an elephant more than 50 meters to cast running water through the tube, this building would have been perhaps more impressive than the current worth Triumphal Arch erected for the victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.

Inside the Arc is a museum that explains its history and construction. It is possible to climb to the roof from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of some of the most famous tourist attractions in Paris

More information: www.wikipedia.org

.