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The Great Pedestrian-Friendly Green Overhaul of Iconic Champs-Élysées

Paris is set for a remarkable transformation with the rejuvenation of the iconic Champs-Élysées avenue. Plans include extensive greening, pedestrian-friendly features, and renovations, aiming to restore its historic charm. The project, shaped by public consultation, also prepares for the 2024 Olympics. This collaborative effort promises a greener, more captivating Champs-Élysées.

Newsdesk R. Michael July 16, 2024 3 min read

spectacle sur le thème de la fête et de l'amour

Paris Prepares for a Grand Makeover: Extensive Greening, Pedestrianisation, and Renovations Set to Transform the World’s Most Famous Avenue

A dense crowd celebrates an event on the Champs-Élysées avenue, lit by thousands of twinkling lights. The Arc de Triomphe is grandly lit in blue with the word ‘PARIS’ projected on it, while beams of light cut through the night sky. This captivating scene, captured by Jean-Baptiste Gurliat/Ville de Paris, is a glimpse into the future of one of the world’s most famous thoroughfares.

A Breathtaking Transformation

The world-famous Champs-Élysées is set to undergo an awe-inspiring transformation. With extensive measures to pedestrianise the area, including the historic Place de la Concorde, extensive greening, renovations, and a reduction in traffic, this iconic avenue is ready for a grand makeover.

The Call for Change

In 2020, a public consultation revealed the desire of Parisians and Greater Parisians for a greener and more authentic Champs-Élysées. Criticisms of its overly concrete appearance and the prevalence of impersonal retail giants that repelled locals and Ile-de-France residents alike highlighted the need for change. The avenue seemed to have aged a little, but the “Re-enchantment of the Champs-Élysées” project is set to revitalise this celebrated Parisian boulevard.

A New Vision for 2024

Led by the City of Paris and the Champs-Élysées Committee, the project aims to restore the Champs-Élysées to its historic glory as a cherished promenade for Parisians. Despite being a tourist hotspot attracting 100,000 visitors daily, the almost 2-kilometer-long avenue is ready for a makeover.

Upcoming Changes

In preparation for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Champs-Élysées will undergo significant renovations. These upgrades include the renovation or replacement of pavements, pedestrian crossings, and street furniture. Launched in May 2022, the first phase aims to enhance aesthetic appeal, pedestrian comfort, and redesigned routes through renovated gardens and new paths for cultural and eventful discoveries.

The famous Place de l’Étoile, housing the Arc de Triomphe, will be widened for pedestrians, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors annually. This rejuvenation will also see the restoration of 146 historic benches, increased greenery, redesigned terraces, and the transformation of small avenues (Dutuit and Tuck) into walkways.

Intensified Greening Post-Olympics

After the Olympics, the greening phase will intensify. A green promenade will stretch from the Louvre to the Chaillot hill, featuring trees of varying heights, lawns, and flower beds. This extensive greening effort aims to transform the Champs-Élysées into a verdant haven for both pedestrians and cyclists.

A Collaborative Effort

Since 2018, a joint effort has been underway with the Champs-Élysées Committee, the elected representatives of Paris and the Ile-de-France, and the Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee to create a shared vision for the avenue’s transformation. This vision was developed in collaboration with nearly 100,000 French citizens who participated in a consultation, presenting over 2,000 proposals and casting 450,000 votes—the most extensive consultation ever conducted for an urban redevelopment project.

Key Figures

5%: The proportion of Parisians among the 10,000 daily visitors to the Champs-Élysées (68% are tourists). This local disinterest is about to change.
107: The number of trees planted in the gardens and roundabout of the Champs-Élysées.
400: The number of tree bases greened in the area.
7,700 square meters: The amount of streets transformed into garden walks.

The transformation of the Champs-Élysées promises to restore its historic charm while embracing a greener, more pedestrian-friendly future. For press inquiries, contact the Press Service at press.mediacentre@paris.fr.

Experience the revitalized Champs-Élysées—a timeless avenue reimagined for the modern era.