If you happen to be at the Arc de Triomphe (specifically, l’Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile), you’re in a glorious spot!  You’re right in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, from where twelve emerald avenues reach out in every possible direction.  Their horse chestnut trees all wave for your attention and visitation.  (See my last post for a good view of that.)

We’ll just snatch a peek at a few of the avenues from atop the Arc de Triomphe.

Some are bold and broad like the Avenue des Champs-Elysees.  You can see the Luxor Obelisk, an exclamation point at the street’s end. Then the vast Louvre Museum stretches itself out just beyond that.

L’Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

This larger view gives you an idea of the countless shopping experiences that await guests of the Champs-Elysees. Its luscious buildings flirt and beckon from both sides.  But the clock always ticks faster there, never allowing enough time to shop… even for me, who mostly just enjoys looking!

L’Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

And there’s the Avenue de la Grande Armee. It leads to la Grande Arche de la Defense.

Avenue de la Grande Armee.

La Grande Arche de la Defense nestles itself comfortably in the modern skyline.

Some avenues are more narrow and shy like Avenue de Friedland, but still lead beautifully toward gems like the majestic church of Saint Augustine.

Avenue de Friedland.

This shot exposes Avenue Hoche (left) and again Avenue de Friedland (right).  The Sacre-Coeur watches over the city from its hilltop perch in the distance.

Avenue Hoche and Avenue de Friedland.

Looking beyond Avenue Marceau, we can spy the gilded dome of Les Invalides; the dark, imposing Montparnasse Tower; and other charismatic structures.

Avenue Marceau.

I couldn’t help myself.  I had to significantly tweak the color of my photo of Avenue d’Iena.  How could I have left la Tour Eiffel to languish in a dreary sky?

Avenue d’Iena.

And while I was at it…

Have a lovely day!

Robin