AVENUE FOCH

Avenue Foch, originally named Avenue Bois de Boulogne until 1929, was laid out in the mid 1850's to satisfy the Emperor Napoleon III's zeal for a centralized avenue for the wealthiest elite that Paris had to offer.

It is an ingenious road, which is actually 3 roads in one. The main boulevard is an express route from the Porte Dauphine to the Arc de Triomphe, which is lined on both the south and north sides by a park. To the north of the north park and the south of the south park are one way streets (the north westbound and the south eastbound), on which the most prestigious homes and apartments ever built in Paris are located. If you're lucky to be on an elevated level, you have views of BOTH the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

Many of the prestigious townhouses have now been carved up into exclusive apartments or serve as embassies, but the wealthiest of the wealthy are still here. Avenue Foch is the MOST expensive real-estate in France, and toys with 1st place as the most expensive real-estate in the world.

Humbly, at #5, you find Paul and Fred's Paris pied-a-terre.

#41 houses the Paris Yacht club (I know, I'm still trying to figure that one out, too)

#43, the Palais Montmorency, is one of the few remaining private ENTIRE townhouses left on the avenue, and is currently for sale for $140,000,000 (yes, 140 million dollars!). It is the 2nd most expensive house for sale in the entire world. If you're interested in buying it, view the detail sheet by clicking here

#19-21 belong to the Rothschid's - they need 2 houses to spread themselves over.

#88 currently houses a penthouse belonging to the Onassis heiress, but she's recently decided to sell for 10 million dollars (note, it's just a penthouse, not an entire townhouse)

On a less pleasant note, #'s 82,84 & 86 were the French headquarters of the Gestapo during the occupation of France during the 2nd world war. Interestingly, there is no marker to note this dubious past. Undoubtably best for the current occupants, but is this situation good, or should we be reminded of just how low humanity can sink, so we don't allow ourselves into the same situation again?

Anyway, ANOTHER stunning day here in Paris, about 67 degrees and cloudless sunshine. Don't be too jealous, though, apparently cooler temps and clouds are in the forecast...