AirVen­tures Crois­sant+Café au Lait

A trav­el­ogue for all the senses

It is early morning in Paris, and the sky glows a pale pink, illu­mi­nated by the first rays of sun over the Seine. The city lies still, almost sleepy – just a few delivery vans rumbling over the cobble­stones, whilst a deli­cate whiff of butter and fresh pastries wafts through the streets.

You’re sitting at the wheel of a little Citroën 2CV, the window half-open, the cool morning air on your skin. Your journey begins at the Place de la Concorde – where the golden obelisk from Luxor glit­ters in the morning mist and the Tuileries Gardens are slowly coming to life. The soft murmur of the foun­tain gently breaks the silence.

You roll slowly along, into the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Ancient plane trees stretch out to your right and left, their shadows creeping across the tarmac like fingers from a forgotten story. To your left lies the Jardin des Champs-Élysées with its enchanted paths and the Théâtre Marigny. A gardener sits on a bench, steaming coffee in one hand, a crois­sant in the other. He nods to you – a silent “Bonjour”.

You cycle on, past ornately deco­rated street lamps and the first boulan­geries to open, their display windows resem­bling little stages: golden-brown pastries, deli­cate pâtis­serie, accom­pa­nied by the tempting aroma of ground coffee. Slowly, the street stirs from its slumber. For a moment, you feel like stop­ping – perhaps at the café ‘Le Deauville’, where the chairs are already out on the pave­ment and cups clink softly. The waiters polish glasses whilst Paris stretches and yawns.

The further you drive, the wider the avenue becomes – more elegant, more cosmopolitan. The shop windows of the great fashion houses come to life, reflecting the light like a glass catwalk. It is still quiet, but soon the street will be buzzing with the thrill of shop­ping and the click of cameras. For now, though, it is yours.

And then, like a crown on the horizon, the Arc de Triomphe rises. Monu­mental, proud, almost golden in the first light. It stands there like a silent guardian who knows every story of this city – from the pomp of the impe­rial era to the Tour de France. You turn into Place Charles-de-Gaulle, where twelve avenues converge – as if the whole of Paris had arranged to meet here.

One last glance in the rear-view mirror: the Champs-Élysées lies there like a film reel, lined with stories, scents and golden light. You take a deep breath – and taste Paris on your tongue: the morning air, crois­sants, a hint of café au lait. Welcome to Paris!

Sights: Place de la Concorde and the Luxor Obelisk, Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin des Champs-Élysées, Théâtre Marigny and the Arc de Triomphe.
Food & Drink: Parisian flair and café au lait at Café “Le Deauville”.
Shop­ping: Stylish shop­ping in the elegant Galeries Lafayette.
Accom­mo­da­tion: Stay in style at the Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s with a view of the Champs-Élysées.

Loca­tion: Main street in Paris, France
Length: approx. 1.9 km
Route: Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe
History: A major boule­vard since the 18th century
Events: National parades (e.g. 14 July), New Year’s Eve cele­bra­tions
Scent: Buttery crois­sants, roasted coffee and a hint of perfume in the base note