5 reasons to explore Paris’s prestigious Golden Triangle

This is the illustrious avenue of Haute Couture, where a century of designers and artists have boldly pursued their passions.

With a view of the Eiffel Tower at one end and the avenue des Champs-Elysées at the other, it’s no wonder Christian Dior decided to create his first atelier here. Many major fashion houses followed his lead, and today you’ll find boutiques including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Armani lining the avenue.

You’ll also find our very own Hôtel Plaza Athénée, where iconic moments and love stories have played out since 1913, making it a true Parisian symbol of excellence and inspiration.

Built in 1889 to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognisable structures in the world and a beacon of Parisian culture.

While it offers spectacular panoramic views from the top floor, it also provides a striking point of reference on the ground, as it can be seen from so many angles around the city. It gives you your bearings and acts as a constant reminder of the remarkable city you’re in.

From within the Golden Triangle you have some of the finest views of this legendary landmark. Our favourites include standing on the Alma Bridge overlooking the Seine – or from one of our very own balconies at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, especially the perfectly framed window of our much-loved Haute Couture Suite.

Stretching all the way from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, the illustrious Champs-Élysées is one of Paris’s most popular tourist attractions – almost 300,000 people visit each day.

While it’s lined with a host of enticing shops, theatres and restaurants, its place in Paris’s heart comes from its sense of immense history and heritage. It’s the setting for events including the city’s official Bastille Day celebration parade (July 14 each year), and it’s also the finishing line for the Tour de France.

At Hôtel Plaza Athénée, we’re proud of our much-loved neighbour the Théâtre des Champs Elysées. Like us, it first opened its doors in 1913. Designed by Auguste Perret, it was the first example of Art Deco architecture to grace the city.

This beautiful theatre soon gained a following after the history-making premiere performance of Le Sacre du Printemps (‘The Rite of Spring’) by Igor Stravinsky. Nowadays, it still hosts world-famous operas, orchestras and musical theatre shows with notable titles including The Magic Flute, Werther, and Alceste, along with concert adaptations of operas such as La Fille du régiment and The Flying Dutchman.

One for the art lovers. Artcurial is a high-profile French auction house located on the corner of avenue Montaigne and avenue des Champs-Élysées, in the historic Hôtel Marcel Dassault.

Some of its most well-known sales include Vincent Van Gogh's ‘Raccommodeuses de filets dans les dunes’ which sold for €7.1m in 2018, and Paul Gauguin's ‘Te Bourao (II)’ which achieved €9.5m in 2019. It also achieved a record sale of €24m for Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin's ‘The Basket of Wild Strawberries’.

Artcurial is also home to a vast selection of art and collectors’ items, ranging from classic cars and unique jewellery to fine wines and furniture. Its popular art bookstore has plenty of coffee table-worthy books and a library of 18,000 contemporary works relating to 20th-century art.