(Paris) The inauguration of 18 new terraces on the Champs-Élysées on Thursday, one month before the Paris Olympic Games, marks the end of the first phase of renovation of the most famous Parisian avenue, before a more in-depth redevelopment promising to “re-enchant” them.
“We have been concerned about the development of the Champs-Élysées for several years,” admitted Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Thursday. “We had to find a breath.”
Around the Arc de Triomphe, which welcomes 1.5 million visitors each year, the central ring dedicated to pedestrians has been enlarged to the detriment of car traffic, which now has only seven lines instead of 11.
The 18 counter-terraces now line up in front of the signs on the upper part of the avenue. These new terraces, which are inspired by the “English cow sheds” (covered areas for shelter in case of rain) from the end of the 19th century, display furniture designed for the occasion.
Paris City Hall also financed a first district-wide renovation: repair of sidewalks, restoration of benches, harmonization of tree bases, etc.
Too expensive, monopolized by luxury brands, too noisy, too polluted or impossible to cross, the Champs-Élysées were shunned by many Parisians. Latest symptom to date: the historic UGC Normandie cinema closed its doors on Thursday, after 90 years of existence, due to “the drop in attendance” at the cinemas on the largest avenue in the world, two kilometers long.
