They don't call Paris the 'City of Lights' for nothing! Every night, the moment the sun goes down, the French capital lights up as if someone turned on the lights. The city becomes a twinkling utopia come nightfall, from the sparkling Eiffel Tower to the seductive glow of the Moulin Rouge cabaret. What more during the holiday season? At a time where everything looks festive, certain parts of Paris brighten up even more to welcome Christmas. They're enchanting in their own right, twinkling enough to rival even the city's most iconic sights. And if you want to see them yourself, here's where you need to go.
Avenue de Champs-Élysées
The world-famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées is already one of the most beautiful areas in Paris. A grand avenue that leads up to the stunning Arc de Triomphe. It's no wonder that this district is among the most coveted and upscale too! And come Christmas, the place brightens up like no other. The trees that line the avenue all twinkle come nightfall; as if they were pixies beckoning you to stroll down this magical path. With either red, silver, or yellow lights all lined up perfectly, you won't help but marvel at the spectacle of it all.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Avenue Montaigne
Avenue Montaigne is all about luxury. Best known as the location of
Christian Dior's ateliers, one of the most influential
haute couture houses of Paris, the area is also filled with other
designer boutiques, flagship stores, and the like. So it's only natural that come Christmas time, the season for shopping, this place lights up to welcome every and all shoppers. 30 Avenue Montaigne, the Dior headquarters, is the centerpiece of such attractions. Not only do glowing golden lights line the beautiful building, but an opulent sparkling chandelier with a star on top signals the coming of Christmas in the area. It's truly quite a sight to see!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Frédéric BISSON
Place Vendôme
Out of all the plazas in Paris, Place Vendôme is undoubtedly one of the most famous. It has appeared in movies, documentaries, postcards, and the like. Located by the
Ritz Paris hotel in the
1st arrondissement, the place is a definite must-see for those visiting Paris for the first time, even more so during the holiday season! At Christmastime, two gigantic Christmas trees join the Colonne Vendôme at the center of the plaza. Brightening up the space with their twinkling lights, you can feel the holiday spirit sprinkled all over the famous spot.
Source: Flickr.com/ Mark Hogan
Don't think that the streets of Paris are the only spots that light up during the holiday season. Others that you simply must see in person are the city's luxury department stores. The likes of
Galeries Lafayette and
Printemps Haussman are known for their holiday decorations, both inside and out. For the former, gigantic Christmas trees and festive decorations add to the already opulent aesthetic of these
Belle Époque structures. While for the latter, their window displays will catch your attention even from a mile away!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes may not be among
Paris's most popular parks but during the holiday season, this is the place to be! Unlike in other parks, where they simply hang fairy lights on the trees and call it a day, Jardin des Plantes actually holds a 'Festival of Lights every Christmas. This year's edition already started
last November and will go on up until the end of January 2022. Here, beyond your typical Christmas light decorations, artists go above and beyond to make lighted works of art for all the world to see. Head on over to the Jardin des Plantes in the
5th arrondissement now to see the festival and all its splendor!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Walter from Florida
Disneyland Paris
Though not exactly the kind of 'Christmas lights in Paris' attraction you were hoping for, this list can't end without mentioning the city's most famous theme park, Disneyland Paris! Every year, the 'happiest place on Earth' fills up with the holiday spirit starting in November. The 'Enchanted Christmas' in Disneyland Paris is an experience you won't forget. Not only will you get to bask in the glow of all the theme park's holiday lights and decorations, but the Christmas parade during this season will also spark joy in your heart. This is another place in Paris you'll want to see for yourself during Christmastime!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
If you thought Paris deserved the title, the 'City of Lights,' now, wait until you get here during the Christmas season. The French capital light up like any other once December comes around! To say that the city looks magical during this time of the year is an understatement!
Your own Christmas decorations in your
luxury home in Paris will also be memorable sights to see in the 'City of Lights' during the holiday season!
