Charles de Gaulle Étoile - Avenue de la Grande Armee

This is the Avenue de la Grande Armee, the avenue directly across from the Champs-Élysées on the other side of the Arc de Triomphe. This avenue is continued by the avenue Charles-de-Gaulle as far as Neuilly-sur-Seine, towards la Défense home to La Grande Arche de la Défense, which you can see in the distant haze.

I visited La Grande Arche on my very first trip to Paris in 1989 and thus it holds a special place in my heart. Next week, more photos from la Defense.

Charles de Gaulle Étoile - Avenue Foch/Avenue Victor Hugo

Arguably the loveliest of the avenues as viewed from the Arc de Triomphe, I love how these streets meet to form a small triangular island in the middle of Paris.

Avenue Foch (on the left) is one of the most prestigious streets in Paris, with palaces of the rich and famous all along its chestnut-lined course.

Avenue Victor Hugo (on the right) is the second-longest of the avenues off of the Place Charles de Galle (after the Champs-Élysées) and prestigious in its own right. My first French boyfriend lived on this street and always said it with an air of importance that to this day I hear every time I say, "Avenue Victor Hugo."

Charles de Gaulle Étoile - Avenue des Champs-Élysées

From the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you can see twelve of the most famous avenues in Paris including the granddaddy of them all, the Champs-Élysées. (Literally translated as "Elysian Fields.")

Arc de Triomphe - The Arch

This week, another icon of Paris - the Arc de Triomphe. Paris' Triumphal Arc sits in the center of Place Charles de Galle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées and honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars.

(In the interest of full disclosure I think it is important to point out that I did not take this picture. I neglected to photograph the arc in all its glory - doh! - so thanks to my friend Sean for this pic :)]