Place Charles de Gaulle is a stressful drive in Paris

Place Charles de Gaulle is a roundabout located in Paris, the capital of France. It’s famous for the 12 avenues radiating from the place, and thus indirectly for the giant traffic-jams they tend to create.

What’s Place Charles de Gaulle?

The road junction, also known as Place de l'Étoile, is among the most familiar symbols and landmarks of Paris having witnessed many significant events in local history. The roundabout receives the traffic from 12 avenues - including the iconic Champs-Élysées-and is the symbol of traffic congestion in Paris. The square was named Charles-de-Gaulle upon General de Gaulle's death in 1970. Before it was called Place de l'Etoile (Star Square) because of the geometrical design of the twelve avenues fanning out from the square. It measures 241 meters in diameter, which gives it a surface area of approximately 4.55 hectares.

How to drive Place Charles de Gaulle?

The iconic roundabout, straddling the 8th, 16th, and 17th arrondissements, is always full of cars, thousands every day. Traffic jams are really common anytime. If you don’t know exactly where you’re going to get off, it’s better to take the outer circle around the Arc de Triomphe, located at the center of the road junction. It may take longer, because you’ll have to wait for the lights every time, but it’s less stressful when you’re a beginner. The experience to drive in this large road junction (aligned with the Arche du Carrousel and the Grande Arche de la Défense) will give you something to talk about at dinner parties for years to come...