The Champs-Elysées: A Self-Guided Audio Tour – Ile-de-France, France

EXPERIENCE:

Be a flâneur for the day on a stroll up the full length of the world-famous avenue, the Champs-Elysées.

This walking tour starts at Place de la Concorde, Paris’ largest square, where you’ll hear about its connection to the French crown, and discover its history of royal glory and revolutionary blood-letting. From there, we’ll set out to discover the pleasures and treasures along the Champs-Elysées, with one small detour to see the city’s most elegant bridge, Pont Alexandre III, also considered its most romantic and photogenic. Our tour ends at one of Europe’s most iconic monuments, the unmissable Arc de Triomphe.

Along the way you’ll encounter statues of historical figures, including former president, Charles de Gaulle, political activist, journalist and publisher, Georges Clemenceau, former UK prime minister, Winston Churchill, and La Païva, a famous courtesan. I’ll also point out sculptures of the mythical figures Apollo, Pegasus and Fame. Along with a golden rooster, you’ll see many other famous and lesser-known sites along the Elysian Fields, including the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais.

On this walk, I’ll tell you about:

• Paris’ oldest outdoor monument, the Obelisk
• King Louis XVI’s beheading during the French Revolution
• The fabulous sculptures of flying and frenzied horses that are often missed by unwitting visitors
• Elysée Palace’s impressive back entrance, well-hidden behind trees
• Avenue Montaigne, the famous catwalk of luxury fashion boutiques frequented by fashionistas from around the world
• The flock of luxury brands willing to pay handsomely for a seat at the real estate table of “the most beautiful avenue in the world”

Put on your walking shoes and charge up your phone for this enjoyable, informative and eye-popping stroll through the glory, glamour, and glitz of the Champs-Elysées and its monumental bookends, Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. I’m Gary Kraut, and I look forward to guiding you on this most essential of Paris walks.

Plan for 90 minutes on an easy-going walk, or several hours if you’d like to take the opportunity to visit the Petit or Grand Palais, shop along the Champs-Elysées, sit in a café, or stop for lunch.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Be a flâneur for the day on a stroll up the full length of the famous avenue
Hear from producer Gary Kraut who authored five travel guides to Paris
Do it all in 90 minutes or linger at stops along the way
Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
Use the virtual tour option at home

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