The Champs-Élysées (French for "Eliseo's Fields) is the most prestigious and broadest avenue in Paris. Its full name is "Avenue des Champs-Élysées". With its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops, the Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world, and with rents as high as $1.50 million a year for 1,000 square feet (100 m²) of space, it remains the 2nd most expensive strip of real estate in the world (the first in Europe) after New York City's Fifth Avenue. The name refers to the Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed in Roman mythology.

The Champs-Élysées is known in France as La plus belle avenue du monde ("The most beautiful avenue in the world"). The arrival of global chain stores in recent years has slightly changed the character of the avenue, and in a first effort to stem these changes, the Paris City government (which has called this "banalization") decided in 2007 to ban the Swedish clothing chain H&M from opening a store on the avenue.

The avenue runs for 2 kilometres (1.25 miles) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with its obelisk, to the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. The Champs-Élysées forms part of the Axe historique. One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Élysées is bordered by greenery (Marigny Square) and by buildings such as the Théâtre Marigny and the Grand Palais (containing the Palais de la Découverte). The Elysée Palace is a little bit to the north, but not on the avenue itself. Further to the west, the avenue is lined with cinemas, theaters, cafés and restaurants (most notably Fouquet's), and luxury specialty shops.
Finally, the avenue is one of the most famous streets for shopping in the world. Benetton, the Disney Store, Nike, Zara, continental Europe's largest Gap and Virgin Megastore as well as Sephora occupy major spaces. Traditionally home of luxury brands, the Champs Elysées confirms its worldclass appeal as a prime real estate location: it has lately seen the opening of new big upscale shops such as the biggest Louis Vuitton department store in the world, which even hosts an exhibition room, and Adidas opened as well in February 2007 its largest store in the world in a wonderful old, classy building. Nike has done the same on the south side of this famous avenue by opening its largest European concept store known as "Nike Paris".

Every year on Bastille Day, the largest military parade in Europe passes down the Champs-Élysées, reviewed by the President of the Republic (see our multimedia content on the parade).
Every year from end of November to end of December, the 'Champs-Elysees' Committee contribute for the Holidays seasons lighting of the Champs-Elysees.
The Champs-Elysées is also the traditional end of the last stage of the Tour de France.
Huge and spontaneous gatherings occasionally take place on the Champs-Élysées in celebration of popular events, such as New Year's Eve, or when France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Les Champs-Élysées sont situés dans le 8e arrondissement de Paris, au nord-ouest de la ville. Ils commencent à la place de la Concorde, où se dresse l'Obélisque, et s'étendent sur 1910 mètres, d'est en ouest, sur terrain plat dans la première moitié, puis en montée jusqu'à la place Charles-de-Gaulle (ancienne place de l'Étoile, au sommet de la butte de Chaillot), au centre de laquelle se trouve l'arc de triomphe de l'Étoile. Sa largeur est de soixante-dix mètres.
Son tracé rectiligne offre une longue perspective née du palais du Louvre, dans laquelle s'alignent la statue équestre de Louis XIV dans la cour Napoléon du Louvre, l'arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, le jardin des Tuileries, l'Obélisque, l'arc de Triomphe, et plus loin à l'ouest, en-dehors de Paris, l'arche de la Défense. Il s'agit de l'axe historique de l'ouest parisien.
C'est un des principaux lieux touristiques de Paris. Dans sa partie inférieure, l'avenue est bordée d'espaces verts (square Marigny) et de quelques constructions (théâtre Marigny, Petit Palais, Grand Palais et son Palais de la découverte), Palais de l'Élysée. Dans sa partie supérieure, on trouve de nombreuses boutiques de luxe, des lieux de spectacle (des cinémas, notamment les UGC Normandie, George-V et Triomphe ; le Lido ; le théâtre des Champs-Élysées), de célèbres cafés et restaurants (Fouquet's)... (less info)