Paris, France – Thousands of Parisians gathered on the iconic Champs-Élysées for a grand picnic organized by local traders and businesses in an effort to revive the allure of the historic boulevard. Once a beloved spot for locals, the Champs-Élysées has seen a decline in recent years, with luxury boutiques replacing popular stores and cinemas.
Organized by the 180-member Champs-Élysées committee, the event, known as “le grand pique-nique”, drew 273,000 applications, with 4,400 lucky participants selected to dine with up to six guests on a massive red-and-white picnic blanket. Eight partner restaurants served a range of meals, from ham baguettes to caesar salads and macarons, providing a gourmet experience on one of the world’s most famous avenues.
Former Élysée Palace chef Guillaume Gomez, the event’s guest of honor, described the gathering as a “true popular and gourmet celebration.” Picnickers expressed their delight, with one attendee mentioning the joy of picnicking on the Champs-Élysées, enjoying the beautiful weather and delicious food.
The Champs-Élysées committee has been vocal about the boulevard’s decline, citing changes in consumer habits and past crises such as the yellow jackets protests and the pandemic. Efforts to rejuvenate the avenue include transforming it into an open-air dictation fest and presenting a 1,800-page report with 150 suggestions for a radical transformation.
Property speculation has also impacted the Champs-Élysées, with rising rents forcing smaller shops and venues to close. Paris city hall is planning a €250m project to turn the urban highway into an “extraordinary garden,” with minor improvements already underway, such as rearranged terraces and more pedestrian space.
As the Champs-Élysées evolves, there is a push for a more comprehensive transformation to restore its former glory. The committee’s extensive report and ongoing initiatives aim to guide the neighborhood in a new direction, prioritizing the preservation of its unique character while adapting to changing times.