All You Need to Know About the Christmas Illuminations on Champs Elysées Avenue

All You Need to Know About the Christmas Illuminations on Champs Elysées Avenue

The lighting of the Camps Elysées every year for the festive season is a national event in France, especially for the people of Paris.

Locals diarize this occasion, and travelers who are lucky enough to be in the city over the annual event get to partake in the charade, feeling it as something “traditionally cultural”.

It’s 2019, and the lights of the Champs Elysées will be going up very shortly; in the next few days, in fact. Here is everything you need to know about the illuminations and how you too can be part of all the fun.

by ASaber91 – Wikimedia Commons

What is the Champs Elysées?

Firstly, newcomers to Paris need to manage their expectations when it comes to the Champs Elysées. This street is one of Paris’ biggest tourist attractions, after the Eiffel Tower.

Since it’s a street, and not a single monument, the road can fit a much higher number of visitors by the minute. It is estimated that around 300,000 people visit the Champs Elysées per day, with this number going even higher once the Christmas illumination are put up.

by Anthony Atkielski – Wikimedia Commons

The road has a lot to offer, but it is predominantly a strip for high-end fashion and retail. Personally I don’t have it in me to even attempt to do my shopping on this busy road, but I will always come see the lights from the sidewalks.

The Champs Elysées is a two kilometer long stretch that runs between the Place de la Concorde and the Place Charles de Gaulle (the square that holds the Arc de Triomphe). The architecture of the road was completed in 1670, so it’s been a part of Paris for quite some time now.

When Do The Lights Go Up?

Technically speaking, the lights have been going up since September. This is when the city begins to prepare the road for the installations, slowly working toward the grand unveiling that always takes place late November.

This year, the Champs Elysées lights will be launched to the public on November 24th, 2019. This is a Sunday, which gives both locals and travelers the chance to be part of the festivities.

by Stephanie LeBlanc – Unsplash

On this day there will be absolutely no cars permitted to drive down the Champs Elysées at all. It’s a walking event, and you’ll need to be dropped off in one of the adjacent roads and enter by foot, or catch the metro into the Champs Elysées Station (expect train crowding).

Where is the Best Place to See Them?

One million light bulbs are used to light the Champs Elysées each year. To keep things environmentally friendly, the city uses 11.000 kw/h bulbs, which means this flamboyant installation actually doesn’t require that much electricity to run.

There is no better or worse spot on the Champs Elysées from which to see the lights. The entire avenue, including side streets, are illuminated as part of the display. You can show up at any location and it will be as good as a few hundred meters higher or lower.

by Briséis – Wikimedia Commons

One thing I will say, however, is that there is something very whimsical about viewing the Champs Elysées lights with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. In this sense, starting your light show down by the westernmost end of the street would be best.

The lights will be on every evening between 5pm and 2am from their launch night through to the end of the first week of January. If you don’t do well with crowds, consider visiting later in the evenings when families with children have gone home to bed.

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Who Will Be There?

Aside from the whole of Paris? You’d be surprised by how many people make the journey to France just for the illumination reveal. European politicians in particular love showing face that this ceremony.

Each year, an influential French individual is asked to light the display as official master of ceremonies. Karl Lagerveld held the honor at 2018s ceremony.

This year it will be done by French actress Ludivine Sagnier.

The gathering starts on the avenue from around 6pm; come early to get a good spot. And dress warm!

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Other Christmas Attractions on the Champs Elysées?

In addition to the outrageous lighting display, the Champs Elysées has a few other Christmas attractions under its belt.

In recent years, the Champs Elysées has been the site of a really wonderful Christmas market. The Champs Elysées market will again be happening this festive season, but instead of being held on the actual avenue it has been forced to find alternative accommodation.

You’ll find the Champs Elysées Christmas market at the Tuileries Gardens just across from the Louvre.

by David Monniaux – Wikimedia Commons

Back on the main road, there will be a giant Christmas Ferris wheel set up at the Place de la Concorde. A giant Christmas tree will be here too. Come any evening leading up to Christmas and enjoy carol singers, street buskers and some independent vendors selling Christmas treats.

If you want to take a guided walking tour through Paris, one can be arranged right through the Christmas spectacle. There are even a few free ones that pass by many of the markets that will be taking place across the city center. Book your tour now!