Beyond the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees

From Paris Hotels Reviews

The lower stretch of the Champs-Elysées between the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées, whose Lalique glass fountains disappeared during the German occupation, and place de la Concorde is bordered by chestnut trees and municipal flowerbeds, the pleasantest part of the avenue for a stroll. The gigantic building with grandiose Neoclassical exteriors, glass roofs and exuberant flying statuary rising above the greenery to the south is the Grand Palais, created with its neighbour, the Petit Palais, for the 1900 Esposition Universelle. Both have recently emerged from extensive restoration projects and look more splendid than ever. The Petit Palais contains a fine arts museum, while the Grand Palais hosts major exhibitions and special events and also contains a science museum. Between the two places lies the place Clemenceau, presided over by statues of Georges Clemenceau, Frech prime minister at the end of World War I, and a recently added bronze of Général de Gaulle in midstride. From here the avenue Winston-Churchill leads down towards the Seine, culminating with a statue of the man himself. To the north of Place Clemenceau, combat police guard the high walls round the presidential Palais de l'Elysee and the line of ministries and embassies ending with the US in prime position on the corner of place de la Concorde. On Thursdays and at weekends you can see a different manifestation of the self-images of states in the postage-stamp market at the corner of avenues Gabriel and Marigny.