Z Champs-Élysées is to be a green boulevard, the city is investing billions

© P. Guignard / PCA-STREAM

Paris - The famous Parisian boulevard Champs-Élysées is set to transform into an oasis of greenery by 2030, providing much more space for pedestrians while restricting car traffic. The city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, told Le Journal du Dimanche that the city intends to invest 250 million euros (6.5 billion CZK) in the project. However, the new look of this urban artery will only be realized after the summer Olympics, which Paris will host in 2024.

The 1.9-kilometer-long boulevard is expected, according to Hidalgo, to transform into a "marvelous garden" to restore its former glory. The study that outlines the revitalization of the area was prepared by architect Philippe Chiambaretta and his firm PCA-Stream.

The city first presented its plans for the renovation of the Champs-Élysées back in 2019; the authors have now incorporated feedback from authorities and the public into the project. The space for motor vehicles is expected to be reduced by half, while pedestrian comfort and greenery will be increased.

According to estimates, around 100,000 people pass through the boulevard daily, with tourists making up as much as 65 percent of that number. Parisians, on the other hand, tend to avoid the busy street, which is also known for its many luxury goods stores.

"The legendary street has lost its former glory over the past 30 years. Parisians have gradually abandoned it, and it has also been hit by several crises: economic, health-related, and also the yellow vest protests and strikes," quoted the British newspaper The Independent from statements by the committee for the restoration of the Champs-Élysées.

The boulevard dates back to 1670, but it took on its current form during a large-scale reconstruction of the city initiated by prefect Georges-Eugene Haussmann in the second half of the 19th century. Champs-Élysées has traditionally been the site for festive parades during the national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille and also forms the final stretch of the Tour de France cycling race.