Nothing looks different this Thursday, December 1 at 11:45 p.m. on the Champs Elysées. And yet, as promised by the City of Paris, the illuminated billboard ads have just gone out, aiming for energy sobriety. And this until 6 in the morning.
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But, undeniably, this disappearance did not cause any reaction among the tourists walking along the famous avenue. Wrapped in their coats and scarves, they brave the Parisian cold and calmly enjoy their walk. No one paid attention to the change in ambient light. “I didn’t notice anythingconfirms several tourists from Saudi Arabia.
The disappearance of these billboards, operated by Clear Channel and a private operator of the City of Paris, seems very modest indeed compared to the bright windows of major fashion and car brands that line this shopping street one after the other. Until November 1, illuminated advertising in store windows must be extinguished upon closing, most stores are competing for the use of light spots. The avenue remains bathed in their lights.
Coats, dresses, cars, sports goods… Passers-by cannot miss every detail of the contents of each of these shops, as if lit up in broad daylight. A treat for some tourists who pose in front of the windows to bring back souvenirs from their nighttime stroll. “Look how beautiful it is!” enthuses a young Dutch tourist with his companion, in front of a famous clothing store whose facade surpasses him in decoration.
And yet, a merchant who does not respect this measure can receive a fine from 750 to 1,500 euros and even 3,000 euros in case of a repeat offense. A risk that doesn’t seem to bother the owners of a number of Parisian shops.
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Above this legendary avenue stands the Arc de Triomphe, which is also still illuminated at midnight. It is an exception among Parisian monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower or Notre-Dame de Paris, which, when turned off, blend into the night. The City Hall of Paris, the Tower of Saint-Jacques, the municipal museums and the town halls of the region have, in fact, stopped lighting up from 22:00 on September 23 due to the energy crisis. The Eiffel Tower now shuts down when the last visitor leaves at 11:45 p.m.
Christmas lights are down for a week
The Christmas lights, which in particular covered the trees on the Champs-Élysées in gold and sparkling blue garlands, did indeed go down at 11:45 p.m., as scheduled. They will operate for six weeks instead of seven, from November 20 to January 2, 2023 inclusive. The Committee of the Champs Elysées announced that the decision to reduce the lighting amplitude for one week would allow to achieve 44% energy savings during that period.
The Champs-Elysées avenue is not particularly notable for its defiance, as many shop windows throughout the city of Paris are lit up with thousands of lights, just waiting to be seen. Furniture stores, watch stores and many others display their products under the ocher light of dozens of bright spots.
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But then it hits one o’clock in the morning and it’s the turn of the Morris Columns, press booth billboards or passenger shelters to go out for the night. This decision by Paris precedes the government’s decision published in early October, which envisages the destruction of the entire area from June 1, 2023.
Despite minor omissions or minor delays, this measure appears to have been respected. But once again, the impact on Paris street lighting remains very weak. “I didn’t even realize it. At the same time, it is not very visible– says 32-year-old Parisian Deborah, who is sitting sheltered from the cold at a bus stop right in front of the Paris Opera House, also wearing pajamas.
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.