Christmas in Paris: The Champs-Elysées Lights Are On!

The festive holiday season has officially opened in Paris. On Thursday, November 20, Mayor Anne Hidalgo and French actor Omar Sy switched on the lights to the popular Champs-Elysées illuminations. Replacing the “rings” of light that adorned the avenue’s 200 trees last year, the new installation was designed as LED “garlands” lighting up the world-famous street.

The illuminations were created by the  French firm Blachère Illuminations to be environmentally friendly, so that the energy required to light up the street has fallen by 97% since 2006. (From 480,000kWh to 10,990kWh.) What’s more, this year’s illuminations are also powered by Soitec, a company specialized in solar energy production, thereby also decreasing the carbon footprint.

The lights are on from 5 pm until 2 am every day until January 7, 2015. Visitors can also enjoy the festive Christmas market that’s set up along the Champs-Elysées. Grab a cup of chocolat chaud or hot mulled wine and browse the stands (there’s even ice skating).