Paris sparkles for the holidays\, to delight of shoppers and tourists

ROUGH CUT.

NO REPORTER NARRATION.

Paris is truly transformed into a city of lights as kilometres of iconic avenues sparkle with Christmas illuminations as the holiday season kicks off.

Each year, around 150 streets in Paris are lit up during the festive period with millions of LED lights, as tourists and Parisians alike flock to streets like Avenue Champs Elysees, Boulevard Haussmann and Rue Montaigne to start their Christmas shopping in the warm glow of the lights, strung up on trees lining the thoroughfares.

In an effort to honour environmental targets, Paris has opted for ultra energy-efficient LED lights.

According to the mayor's office, lavishly illuminating the Champs Elysees this year will cost just the equivalent of two Parisian families of four's annual electricity bill.

According Paris's first Arrondissement's town hall, in some shopping areas of the city, profits increase up to 30% during the festive period and tourist number are at their peak.