No Paris city break would be complete without a visit to the Champs Elysées. It might be one of the most famous streets in the world with one of the most famous sights at the end of it – I’m thinking of the Arc de Triomphe, of course. But, as we explain in our Paris Mp3 Tour, this great boulevard, which was first laid out by Catherine de Medici, is today full of deafening traffic, dreary international chain stores, gift shops and pick pockets.
As I say to anyone who is visiting Paris for the first time – have a look by all means but don’t expect much and don’t stop for a drink. If you want a great view of the Arc de Triomphe, there are other avenues leading off the Etoile to choose from. Our Paris audio guide gives the best bets.
But the noise and tourist schlock is about to be banished, at least temporarily, this weekend when the avenue of enchanted fields is turned into giant farmers market with fresh produce, greenery and shrubs. I one for one will be interested to see how successful it is and whether demand from tourists and Parisians will bring it back.