# Champ de Mars, Paris > The Champ de Mars is a large green park in the 7th arrondissement, stretching from the foot of the Eiffel Tower to the 18th-century École Militaire. It's the place for a picnic with a view of the tower: Parisians and visitors sit on the lawns with baguettes and cheese, and in the evening watch the tower light up and sparkle. Five World's Fairs were held here, including the one the tower was built for. Entry is free and the park is always open. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/champ-de-mars - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Hours: Open 24 hours, some lawns close at night - Length: ≈ 780 m from the tower to the École Militaire - Picnics: Allowed on open lawns - Duration: ≈ 30–90 minutes - Location: 7th arrondissement, RER C Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel - Coordinates: 48.85613, 2.29803 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1765** — the École Militaire was built (source: English Wikipedia) - **1783** — the first hydrogen balloon flew (source: English Wikipedia) - **5** — World's Fairs held here (source: English Wikipedia) - **2024** — Olympic beach volleyball (source: English Wikipedia) ## About the Champ de Mars The Champ de Mars is a large public park in the 7th arrondissement, between the [Eiffel Tower](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/eiffel-tower) to the north-west and the **École Militaire** to the south-east. It's named after the Campus Martius of ancient Rome, dedicated to the god Mars. These flat meadows once served as a parade ground, and before that, on the plain of Grenelle, they were market gardens growing vegetables and flowers. It owes its present shape to the building of the École Militaire in **1765** to designs by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, architect of the Place de la Concorde: a vast esplanade was levelled before its grand façade and lined with elms. Today it's a long green vista of lawns, avenues and flowerbeds closed at one end by the Eiffel Tower. ## Things to do on the Champ de Mars - **A picnic facing the tower** — the classic Paris pleasure. - **Full-height tower photos** — from the paths mid-field. - **The evening sparkle** — every hour after dark. - **A walk to the École Militaire** — along the avenues. - **Playgrounds and a carousel** — for trips with children. - **Basketball and football** — open courts in the park. ## A picnic by the Eiffel Tower The most Parisian thing to do on the Champ de Mars is a **picnic**. Pick up a baguette, cheese, fruit and something sweet from the shops on nearby Rue Cler and spread a blanket on the lawn facing the tower. On warm evenings thousands gather here: groups of friends, families and couples. It's especially beautiful after sunset, when the Eiffel Tower glows gold and, at the top of every hour, sparkles for five minutes with thousands of flashing lights. From mid-field you see the tower full height, one of the best spots to photograph it at night. > **Good to know** Not every lawn is open all the time: some are fenced off to let the grass recover, so sit where there are no signs. In the evening beware of hawkers and shell-game players, and keep your bags close. In summer arrive early for a spot with a good tower view, and take your rubbish with you. ## The World's Fairs The Champ de Mars hosted five **World's Fairs**: 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900 and 1937. Pavilions from around the world filled the vast esplanade, showing the latest machines, electricity and wonders of technology. For the 1889 fair, marking the centenary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower was raised at the edge of the field, at first as a temporary structure. Even earlier, on **27 August 1783**, the physicist Jacques Charles and the Robert brothers launched the world's first hydrogen balloon from here, still without passengers. In the 1790s the field hosted grand revolutionary festivals with an altar and an artificial mountain designed by the painter Jacques-Louis David. ## The École Militaire and the south end To the south-east the field is closed by the stately **École Militaire**, with its dome and columns, built under Louis XV. It is still a place of study, so it's closed to visitors, but its façade is one of the finest classical buildings in Paris and a lovely backdrop for photos from the other end. In 2021 the temporary **Grand Palais Éphémère** exhibition hall was built at the south end, and in 2024 the Olympic Eiffel Tower Stadium stood on Place Jacques-Rueff for the **beach volleyball** tournament. The Champ de Mars also hosted part of the Olympic opening ceremony. ## For children and sport The Champ de Mars is easy with children: there are playgrounds, a carousel and plenty of space to run. In summer kiosks sell ice cream and drinks, and the paths suit pushchairs. For the sporty there are open basketball and football courts, and Parisians jog the avenues round the lawns in the mornings. It's had its film moment too: in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, Bond races across it in a taxi. ## How to get there 1. RER C to **Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel**, for the north end by the tower. 2. Metro line 8 to **École Militaire**, for the south end. 3. Metro lines 6, 8 and 10 to **La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle**, a 10-minute walk. 4. From the Trocadéro, across Pont d'Iéna past the tower's foot, 15 minutes. ## Tips for your visit The Champ de Mars follows naturally from the Eiffel Tower or the [Trocadéro](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/trocadero): photograph the tower from the Trocadéro, cross the bridge, go up the tower and relax on the lawn. For a picnic, shop on Rue Cler or in the supermarkets around. The best photo spots are the central path mid-field and the little bridge over the pond at the north end. Mornings are nearly empty, evenings lively and festive. Public toilets are by the tower and at the edges of the field. Drinking alcohol in the park isn't allowed, so check the signs. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Buy picnic food - [ ] Bring a blanket - [ ] Find an open lawn facing the tower - [ ] Wait for the sparkle - [ ] Take your rubbish away ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [Luxembourg Gardens](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/jardin-du-luxembourg) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Tuileries Garden](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/tuileries-garden) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Champ de Mars](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/champ-de-mars) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Palace of Versailles](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/versailles) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Timed ticket, online - [Parc Monceau](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/parc-monceau) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 50 min · Free - [Musée Rodin](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/musee-rodin) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Museum and garden ticket, free under 18 - [Parc de la Villette](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/parc-de-la-villette) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Park free, museums ticketed ## Don't mix it up The Champ de Mars is the park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower on the Left Bank; the Trocadéro is the hill with the Palais de Chaillot on the Right Bank, where you view the tower across the river. ## Tips - Picnic with a view. - Sparkle every hour. - Sit where no signs. - Take rubbish home. ## Questions ### Can I have a picnic on the Champ de Mars? Yes, on the open lawns; some grass is fenced off at times. ### Is there an entry fee? No, the park is free. ### When does the Eiffel Tower sparkle? At the top of every hour after dark, for about five minutes. ### What is the building at the end of the field? The 18th-century École Militaire by the architect Gabriel. ### How do I get to the Champ de Mars? By RER C to Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel or metro 8 to École Militaire. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. The field's length and lawn closure rules weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Champ de Mars - City of Paris website, paris.fr --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.