Les champs return to being fields
Monday, May 24, 2010 Publié par Eric Tenin
I know you think this is a Photoshop edit, but it's not! During the night of Saturday to Sunday, hundreds of French farmers brought dirt, plants and a few farm animals too, to Les Champs Elysées to turn them into a giant field. It's not a demonstration, but a "PR event" called Nature Capitale to remind the Parisians of what the country - and life in the country! - looks like. Enormous - huge - success as this kind of event does not happen very often. I loved it. So much, that I may go back tomorrow at dawn when there are less people (hopefully). BTW, the funny part is that Les Champs Elysées used to be fields (or rather a swamp area) until Marie de Medici decided to have an avenue built there, in 1616! Update: here is a view from the arch, courtesy of Silvia, a friend of mine who took it today.
May 24, 2010 12:15:00 AM GMT+02:00
This looks amazing, Eric! Wish we all could have been there. Oh well, thank goodness we have you to show us. Thanks!
May 24, 2010 12:28:00 AM GMT+02:00
That is so cool!
May 24, 2010 12:39:00 AM GMT+02:00
I applaud the Parisian ingenuity. This is clever and extremely inviting. I know why you're thinking about going back. I certainly would, too.
May 24, 2010 12:45:00 AM GMT+02:00
I love it when the Champs Elysées are used like that!
That must be really spectacular. Never seen that before. Sure I believe you when you say you're interesting for having a second cooler look at dawn. I think it is worth getting up early to enjoy it in better conditions than with the crowd. I only wish I could go there with you but i'm a bit far from Paris. Vicariously then, in my dreams at dawn, I may follow you :)
May 24, 2010 12:48:00 AM GMT+02:00
coooool, and unique!:)
May 24, 2010 12:54:00 AM GMT+02:00
Oui! I saw this event on France24 -- and they interviewed children who were having the greatest time of their life. We have these events in SF to promote our local farmers.
May 24, 2010 1:47:00 AM GMT+02:00
This has been big news in the U.S. today. I'd hoped you'd post an image of it. Wonderful!
May 24, 2010 3:17:00 AM GMT+02:00
My hearts ACHES not to be there right now. Looks like a blast.
May 24, 2010 4:05:00 AM GMT+02:00
Looks like fantastic fun. :)
May 24, 2010 4:08:00 AM GMT+02:00
Now Eric, and others who will have been there, can one day (soon) say while strolling Les Champs Elysées, “I remember when this was all fields and forest. I used to admire particularly a tall cypress that was right over there in the middle of that second lane of traffic.”
Will that particular expression of Parisian chic we can find along Les Champs Elysées remain the same as before or should we not be surprised if we see that indefinable sense of style found there now somehow transformed in some small way...?
May 24, 2010 4:45:00 AM GMT+02:00
That's an amazing scene! It's great that it was a success. Thanks for the "insider view" :)
May 24, 2010 5:04:00 AM GMT+02:00
great shot!
May 24, 2010 6:07:00 AM GMT+02:00
Interesting. There was a story about this in the newspaper today.
Sydney - City and Suburbs
May 24, 2010 6:25:00 AM GMT+02:00
How beautiful the Arc de Triomphe looks surrounded by all that greenery. Even the traffic lights cooperated! ;-)
May 24, 2010 6:35:00 AM GMT+02:00
I love this photo! Be sure to enlarge it, everyone, and see all the people on top of the Arc.
May 24, 2010 8:06:00 AM GMT+02:00
It was a glorious day too! Of course today is a holiday in France, well for SOME people, so wonder what the drivers will do when they show up and see a cornstalk in their front window!
Today to be the hottest in Paris so far this year (29c). Wish I was in a swim suit and not a monkey suit! Not complaining though. Beats winter any day!!
May 24, 2010 9:28:00 AM GMT+02:00
What a big effort to transform this space! Fascinating. I was impressed by the annual beach that is set up along the river, but this seems even harder to accomplish and with many people coming together to make it happen. Your urban space is looking overgrown by mother nature! :-)
-Kim
May 24, 2010 10:01:00 AM GMT+02:00
Another great photo, Eric, full of funny details: green traffic lights in the middle of the trees, a bird on the street lamp (instead of on a branch!)...
This "Nature Capitale" was certainly great. But, wasn't it too crowdy??
May 24, 2010 10:14:00 AM GMT+02:00
How gorgeous, Eric!! I kind of wish it could stay that way.
May 24, 2010 11:12:00 AM GMT+02:00
Ijust heard that there were 800,000peoople there on Sunday. I hope you got there today with a meager 500,000 or so...
May 24, 2010 1:37:00 PM GMT+02:00
A nice peaceful day in the 'country'?
It's fun, but life in the country was never like this!
May 24, 2010 2:19:00 PM GMT+02:00
I heard about this event from news yesterday and then thought that there should be a photo of Les Champs Elysées turned into a field...As I can see you read my thougts Eric :)
It looks fantasic, I wish I was there...actually I always wish I was in Paris.
May 24, 2010 3:07:00 PM GMT+02:00
I love it! So beautiful! But I have to admit, the view out my front door, or any other window for that matter, is greener than this. I live in the country. I must say that the Arc de Triomphe would be a welcome addition to my front yard though. lol
May 24, 2010 3:45:00 PM GMT+02:00
I hope all these trees are bringing a little coolness on the Champs Elysees because with the sun that is shining so strong today (and I won't complain of it !) a little of shadow may be very welcome. Thib is right, Eric, your picture already brings lots of nice details! But if you are feeling like... Ok I know you'll do tour best as always;)
On another topic, the Tennis Open Roland Garros has just started this morning for two weeks and I wish the players a great fresh bath after their game!
So shadow and a good bath are my thoughts today: no wonder why !! Any one interested? I'll go! ;)
May 24, 2010 6:31:00 PM GMT+02:00
WOW!!!!!
May 24, 2010 7:25:00 PM GMT+02:00
Flore, I'm not sure to be clear here. Are you asking us to go in the shadows with you or in the bath?
May 24, 2010 7:55:00 PM GMT+02:00
Excellent..off to a special preview of the "Treasures from the Musee d'Orsay" tonight..can't wait!! A little bit of Paris comes to San Francisco!! ;-)
May 24, 2010 9:06:00 PM GMT+02:00
I love this!
May 24, 2010 9:36:00 PM GMT+02:00
great capture
May 24, 2010 10:06:00 PM GMT+02:00
!!800,000!! Yikes! I'm going to see if I can find a shot from the air of the whole thing.
Petrea -- the people on top are really cool looking! Its like a people fringe. I didn't think they'd look as tall as they do. I guess Eric had all the tall ones step to the front for the shot. ; )
May 24, 2010 10:26:00 PM GMT+02:00
Ricardo LOL !
I should read myself before publishing my comments especially while I'm having a sunbath on the beach. It was so sunny and hot that I think I only needed a cool seabath. And of course I asked if anyone might be interested because of the heat ;-) Vicariously but still !
May 24, 2010 11:43:00 PM GMT+02:00
@Océane ". Vicariously then, in my dreams at dawn, I may follow you :)" Well you would have been disappointed; I went there at 8, but the "doors" would not open before 9:30. And the arch... Does not open before ten. Fortunately a friend of mine took these photos
@Lois "We have these events in SF to promote our local farmers." You do? Where do they put the dirt? Union Square?!
@Brattcat "This has been big news in the U.S. today" I'm surprised it made it to the US headlines actually. (And the Australian ones, according to
@Tall Gary LOL. I don't think it will change anything. This lasted only 2 days and "only" 2 million people saw it...
@Michael "It was a glorious day too! Of course today is a holiday in France, well for SOME people," Do I hear jealousy?!
@Thib "This "Nature Capitale" was certainly great. But, wasn't it too crowdy??" FAR too crowded, I'm telling you.
May 25, 2010 9:47:00 AM GMT+02:00
Eric, too bad we didn't cross paths among the cabbage patches and hundreds of thousands of people sweltering in the heat. I was there with my camera as well. I posted a photo with coffee plants in the foreground on my blog "Paris-Sharing". Probably the first and last time one can experience coffee that way on the Champs-Elysée !
May 25, 2010 7:36:00 PM GMT+02:00
Looks like a great event. Thanks for posting it.
May 26, 2010 11:31:00 AM GMT+02:00
I love the green traffic lights popping out of the olive trees!
A spectacular event. My daughter was there on Monday afternoon but gave up fairly quickly - the crowd was just too thick.