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8th Arrondissement Guide
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Streets
The Champs Elysee was originally an extension of the Tuileries gardens laid out in the 17th century by Le Notre. During the Second Empire, from 1852, it became a focus for fashionable society and theatre, for military parades and royal processions. It is on a direct line from the Louvre, through the Tuileries Gardens, past the Place de Concorde, up through gardens bordered by trees and azaleas. In these gardens are two famous theatres, Theatre de Marigny and Theatre du Rond-Point and exclusive restaurants with pretty garden terraces, such as Ledoyen and Laurent. From the Rond-Point the Champs Elysee runs uphill to the Arc de Triomphe. Here along its wide granite pavements there are many fast food eateries, shopping arcades and cinemas but it is still considered the most beautiful avenue in the world.
Gardens
Parc Monceau is one of the prettiest parks in Paris with its lovely flower gardens and architectural follies - a pyramid, a covered bridge, an East Asian pagoda, Dutch windmills and Roman ruins.
Districts Map
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Paris 8th Arrondissement - Champs Elysee • Concorde • Madeleine
The 8th arrondissement has much grandeur including the most magnificent square in all of France, place de la Concorde with the most ancient monument in Paris, the Obelisk of Luxor, over 70 meters high and is 3300 years old; the impressive triumphal arch, L'Arc de Triomphe; the most luxurious hotels in the world, such as the Crillon, the Hotel Bristol and the Plaza Athenee; avenue Montaigne; the world's most exclusive residential street and home of haute couture brands Valentino, Christian Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, and Faubourg-St-Honore the world's most luxurious shopping street.
What to See
Sites, Covered Passages, Museums and more
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Places of Interest
Place de la Concorde
The grandest and most infamous square in Paris. It is situated at a crossroads, the National Assembly to the south facing its mirror image a neo-Greek Temple, the Madeline church, to the north and the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees to the west facing the Tuilleries Gardens and the Louvre to the east. It was constructed between 1754 and 1763 to hold a statue of Louis XV and was then called Place Louis XV. It then became the Place de Revolution and the site of the guillotine which beheaded nearly 3000 people including Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton and Robespierre. After the Reign of Terror it was renamed Place de la Concorde, then after several name changes, it once again became the Place de la Concorde. The statue of Louis XV, removed during the Revolution, was replaced by the over 3000 year old Obelisk of Luxor, given by the viceroy of Egypt to Louis Phillippe in 1883.
Arc de Triomphe
Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 as a memorial for the French Army but was not completed until 1836. It is 165 feet high and one can visit the observation deck at the summit of the arc from where there is a brilliant view of Paris. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame, rekindled every evening at 6:30 PM, lies under the Arc. It is at the centre of 12 avenues and is known as the Etoile (star)..
La Madeleine
The building of the Madeleine Church, named for Mary Magdalene, began in 1763 but was not finished until 1842. The famous Maxim's restaurant is nearby on the rue Royale and on the square of the Madeleine are two famous specialty food stores; Fauchon and Hediard's.
Cathedrale Alexandre Nevski
Constructed in the mid-19th century by the architects of the Czar of Russia with onion domes, gilding, icons and frescoes. It was then part of the education of every young Russian aristocrat to visit Paris and is today still the heart of the Russian emigre community.
Museums
Grand Palais and Petit Palais
Built for the 1900 World Fair, the former now has major exhibitions and the later houses the fine arts museum of the City of Paris with a collection specializing in 19th century French painters as Delacroix, Courbet, Monet, Cezanne and Bonnard. Part of the Grand Palais also houses a science museum, the Palais de la Decouverte.
Musee Jacquemart-Andre
This museum housed in the opulent mansion, Hotel Andre, built for Edouard Andre and his wife Nelie Jacquemart in the 1870is, both avid art collectors. Besides the magnificent art collection, it is interesting to see how late 19th century wealthy 'haute bourgeoise' lived. There is a pretty tea room under a fresco by Tiepolo, and a good audio guide available in English.
Also: -
Musee Nissim de Camondo - 18th century decorative arts.
Museum Cernuschi - Asian art.
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What to Do
City Tours, Cooking, Wine Promenades, Photo Adventures, Private Guides & More
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Tour Paris in a 2CV
Venice has its gondolas, Vienna its horses and carriages, Bangkok its tuk-tuks, and now Paris has its 2CVs! Jump into this distinctive car for a privately chauffeured open-air tour of the capital's famous squares and its lesser known districts.. Pick up from your hotel or apartment.
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Mystery Electric Bike Tours
A guided visit of a unique quality: all the famous places of Paris, but also surprising, overlooked and mysterious ones. And it is all delivered on an electric bicycle, silent and easy, just a notch beneath the wings of an angel. Push a door, and you jump over three centuries. You're in an ancient monastery in the very heart of Paris. A few steps ahead and you discover a jewel that only precious few learned people know it exists.
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Dinner Cruises on the Bateaux Mouches
For more than half a century," La Compagnie des Bateaux-Mouches®"has created joyful and memorable experiences for nearly one hundred million guests! In 1949, avant-garde Jean Bruel invented the concept of "Bateaux-Mouches". Monsieur Bruel's
inspiration arose from his idea: "To offer visitors a tour of Paris from the city's most beautiful Boulevard - The Seine River"
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Hop On Hop Off Bus
Concorde
8, place de la Concorde (in front l'hotel Crillon), Obelisque de la Concorde, Musee de l'Orangerie
Champs-Elysees Clemenceau
In front le Theatre Marigny, Grand-Palais, Petit Palais, Marche aux Timbres
La Boetie - Champs-Elysees
60, avenue des Champs-Elysees (in front Virgin Megastore), avenue Montaigne
George V
116, avenue des Champs-Elysees (in front Lido de Paris),
Arc de Triomphe, Office de Tourisme de Paris
Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
8, avenue Kleber, Arc de Triomphe
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Where to Eat
L ` Alsace : 39, av. des Champs Elysées
Amidst the glittering sparkle of the world's most beautiful avenue, it is an epicurean's delight, with its trompe-l'œil decor and bevelled mirrors. At a table on its majestic terrace, gourmets are willingly spoiled by all the treasures that Alsace can offer…: sauerkraut dressed with every possible delight: champagne, Riesling and a large assortment of fish.
