Christmas in Paris: City of Light – Part 1

Paris is known as the ‘City of Light’ due, originally, to its leading role during the Age of Enlightenment. More recently it claimed this name by becoming one of the first European cities to adopt gas lighting. And each year at Christmastime it reclaims it yet again when its streets glow with yuletide splendour. I was fortunate to spend Christmas there recently and stayed in a lovely little apartment just off the wonderful market street of Rue Cler in the 7th arrondissement – borough.The days are short in Paris during this festive season. Here, the city is wrapped in a blanket of darkness by 4:30 in the afternoon. So it responds by illuminating its avenues, hotels and boutiques with a gorgeous array of Christmas decorations.

Festive Landmarks

This was an ideal location for sightseeing as it was just a 2 minute walk from the Champs de Mars and an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. And it was also a quick 15 minute walk to the grand Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It was to the latter that I headed on my first evening that visit. Standing in the middle of the avenue and looking toward the Arc de Triomphe, the scene was breathtaking. I squinted my eyes to reveal an Impressionist holiday scene of red, green and gold.

My favourite part was the lights on the 450 plane trees that line this great avenue. They twinkled upwards, looking like champagne glasses full of bubbles. How fitting for this city of gastronomic delights!

Triangle d’Or

As I was admiring these gems, the Christmas lights on Avenue Montaigne caught my eye, drawing me down that street to explore further. This area, better known as the Triangle d’Or – Golden Triangle – is home to many of Paris’ elegant haute couture houses; Dior, Chanel and Saint Laurent to name but a few. I found Dior‘s giant ‘crystal’ chandelier mounted on the corner of their building absolutely stunning.

A little further along, on the opposite side of the street, I came upon the romantic Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Its Art Nouveau façade was highlighted with white light and its entrance surrounded with a collection of sparkling Christmas trees. Off in the distance, the spotlights from the Christmas Market on the Champs-Élysées converged to create their own Christmas tree of sorts. This one highlighting the deep blue of the sky.

I continued my tour of the Triangle d’Or area of the City of Light on Christmas Day. Walking along the prestigious Avenue George V towards the Champs-Élysées, I came upon more luminescent wonders. The first was at Givenchy. The building façade was papered in white lights while the balcony hosted a series of evergreens lit up to match. Further on, the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel George V was also alight in white, highlighted by gold and blue. And beyond that, Bulgari, its curved facade crowned with a giant ‘diamond’ necklace. Champs-Élysées

Arriving at the Champs-Élysées, I came upon Fouquet’s restaurant alight in red with a three-dimensional gift bow mounted above their iconic sign. While across the avenue, Tiffany & Co. shone out in its signature blue. Even the bus shelters on the avenue were alight in luxurious Christmas themes. I particularly liked the fun Lacoste one pictured below.

Having come full circle, I was now facing the Louvre. The skyline was filled with the red, white and blue lights on le Grand Roue – The Big Wheel – the giant Ferris wheel located on the Place de la Concorde. What a fitting way to finish this part of my Christmas tour of the City of Light.

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