Interesting Places I've Photographed
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Paris, France
Topic: Philatelic Photographs
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| April 7, 2013 - Paris Marathon Begins |
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| The Eiffel Tower and entourage gets to start the Paris Marathon first. |
GPS: N48° 51.995; E002° 19.182
Quick Description:
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées (Avenue of the Elysian Fields) extends 1.18 miles from Arc de Triomphe l'Etoile on the west to the Place de la Concorde at it's eastern end. No visit to Paris is complete without a stroll along the Champs-Élysées.
Long Description:
Champs-Élysées is named for the place for the blessed dead in Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields. It is considered by many to be "the most beautiful avenue in the world". Looking to the east, uphill from the Place de la Concorde, the Avenue begins with a pair of sculpted horses being restrained by grooms. These two large marble sculptures were commissioned in 1739 for the horse pond in the gardens of the Château de Marly. They were sculpted by Guillaume Coustou the Elder and completed by Guillaume Coustou the Younger. In 1749, they were moved to Paris and placed on their high pedestals at the bottom of the Champs-Élysées.
The next feature are the trees line both sides of the Avenue (on the stamp they are lighted for the New Year 1995). In 1994, the Champs-Élysées was revitalized with new street benches, lamps and a type of sycamore called plane trees that can thrive in an urban environment.
At the top of the Avenue is the famous Paris landmark, the Arc de Triomphe l'Etoile. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 the large triumphal arch honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
The stamp was issued by France on New Year's Eve in 1994. The photographs were taken of the Champs-Élysées on April 7, 2013 on the day of the Paris Marathon.
The next feature are the trees line both sides of the Avenue (on the stamp they are lighted for the New Year 1995). In 1994, the Champs-Élysées was revitalized with new street benches, lamps and a type of sycamore called plane trees that can thrive in an urban environment.
At the top of the Avenue is the famous Paris landmark, the Arc de Triomphe l'Etoile. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 the large triumphal arch honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
The stamp was issued by France on New Year's Eve in 1994. The photographs were taken of the Champs-Élysées on April 7, 2013 on the day of the Paris Marathon.
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