29.9.08

Avenue Foch

When the Avenue Foch was created in the 1860’s, Napoleon III wanted it to be the most beautiful avenue in the world. It was given the name of Avenue de l’Impératrice, his wife. It later got the name of Avenue du Bois and in 1922, Avenue Foch, after Ferdinand Foch, Marshal and supreme commander of the allied armies during the end of WW I, co-signer of the armistice.

When the avenue was opened, the Bois de Boulogne (see previous post) had just been created and attracted crowds. It’s 1,2 km (0,75 miles) long, goes from l’Etoile to the Bois and, as you can see on the map, it’s much wider – 120 m (130 yards) - than the Champs Elysées. In addition to the large driving lanes (originally for horses) in the midle, there is plenty of walking and green space... and then again more narrow streets in front of the buildings.




At one end of the avenue, you find thus Place de l’Etoile (Place Charles de Gaulle) with the Arch of Triumph (see previous posts).
At the other end, Porte Dauphine, is a memorial to another more recent French war hero and marshal, Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, who represented France at the WW II armistice signing. There is also a small railway station, originally built for the “Petite Ceinture”, the railroad which surrounded Paris and connected to the major railway stations – opened in 1852 and closed in the 30’s. This station is still in use for an express metro line. You can also buy your newspaper in a typical “kiosque” and find another “Guimard” metro station. One entrance is one of the few remaining with a protecting roof. (See previous posts about Guimard.) Some of the “hôtels particuliers” (private mansions) that were originally built along the avenue have been replaced, but a few remain like the private Paris home for the Grimaldi (Monaco) family and the Angolan Embassy. Today, you find mostly apartment houses ... but what apartments! Here is where you will find some of the most expensive flats in Paris. I will not make a list of the world wide celebrities who live or who have lived here, but they are numerous. As it’s often only one residence among others that these people own or rent, it’s striking to see how many window shields that are closed. There seems to be a slight price difference between the (sunny) north side and the south side. You can enjoy some 66 000 m² (15 acres) of green space. Some of the trees - a large variety – are huge, seem to be there since the creation of the avenue and many are certainly more than 100 years old. It’s a perfect place to read your newspaper, to walk your dog... Again, some room has been made for wild flowers! As there is a considerable amount of space – and trees - between the traffic and the buildings, I don’t believe that the noise is a major disturbance here, but if you really want it calm, you could perhaps consider Square Avenue Foch, a private street and square (see map above). No names of who lives here, but the building with some red is the Singapore Embassy.

39 comments:

Virginia said...

Peter,
This must be on our "program". I love the balconies, the apartments, etc. I am hoping from the map that it is near our hotel.
V

Virginia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
krystyna said...

The Avenue Foch probably Is the most beautiful avenue in the world
as Napoleon III wanted.
I can imagine what kind of apartments there must be today.
Thank you Peter for this beauty of Paris.
Have a successful, wonderful week ahead.

HZDP said...

Hmm, I just checked the name "Avenue Foch" online, it's "福煦路" in Chinese. Very famous and yes it looks beautiful, I'll out for photos tonight! I'll take some night shots and I'll lock my destination at some avenues as well! Inspiring blog...

Cutie said...

The beauty of Europe country is the Park. They have absolutely amazing park and it's so nice to just hang around there. The pictures are absolutely beautiful.

lyliane six said...

Je pense que c'est la plus large avenue de France avec ses contre-allées.Les Kennedy y avaient un appartement face à celui de personnes que je connaissais et dans lequel je suis allée il y a presque 40 ans!Je fréquentais du "beau monde" alors...

Vagabondage said...

Bonjour Peter,

Etourdissant défilé d’images sur une avenue qui le mérite bien...

Et puis des couleurs d’automne à pas de loup se glissent ça et là..

Que je n'aime pas la perspective de l’hiver qu'il nous laisse en présage...

Bonne journée Peter, à bientôt.

Olivier said...

Waouh....plein les yeux today. Toujours un faible pour la station de métro de l'architecte Guimard , j'ai appris, il y a pas longtemps, que l'on avait surnommé ces stations de "pavillon chinois". j'aime bien.

Cergie said...

L'avenue Foch n'est pas dans la quartier le plus populaire de Paris, de beaux immeubles avec de beaux porches, réservés bien souvnt à des sièges de sociétés ou d'administrations.
Je suis toujours étonnée de la beauté des arbres et des espaces verts (l'arbre sur le coin droit de ta photo du haut). Lorsque je suis venue à Paris après Lille (non pas Lylie), j'ai mesuré l'ampleur du phénomène

J'ai dit "horrible héron" et tu n'as retenu que ça de mon comment de l'autre jour. C'est un fait que je trouve que le héron est un oiseau très laid. Cependant ta photo était superbe.

hpy said...

Salut! Beau reportage, comme d'hab, mais ne crois pas que tu as le monopole de l'avenue Foch! Il y en a une aussi au Havre et elle est au moins (presque) aussi large, avec des arbres, des allées et des contrallées, un square, non que dis-je, un parc à coté. Elle aboutit sur un rond-point sans arc, mais avec la plage et la mer derrière. Pas mal non?

Gaëlle said...

C'est cossu par ici ! Jolie visite une fois de plus. Par contre le temps ne parait pas des plus cléments en ce moment à Paris !!
Au fait, merci pour tes gentils commentaires sur mon blog et mon site !

Anonymous said...

Lovely area. Thanks for the pictures.

Adam said...

Looking at your first picture, it reminds me very much of 'The Mall' that runs from Bucking Palace to Trafalgar Square in London. More competition perhaps between the two in the eternal 'bigest/better/most beautiful' contests!

Deepak Gopi said...

I liked all the pics.I wish I had cars like those :(:(
@deepak-I follow all those tips. ByGods grace Up to this day I am perfectly normal.Thank God.

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Nul doute que le RSA (revenu de solidarité active) soit attendu avec impatience par les habitants de ce quartier !

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

wow PETER!!!
You keep surprising me over and over I really are impressed by the photo's from your (our?) Paris.... Like also this Avenue FOCH, busy though but pretty see through your Cam eyes... Happy creative weekwishes,you made a great post here!

As promissed I pote a reportage of my boattrip just now! Come and watch and hopefully you'll be surprised too? :)


JoAnn's D Eyes

Nathalie H.D. said...

Oh Peter, tu nous emmènes dans les beaux quartiers !

Quel magnifique billet! Je suis toujours épatée par l'ampleur des détails que tu donnes, c'est vraiment un site d'information incroyablement complet que tu fais !

(PS - re ton commentaire à Avignon, tu as raison, moi aussi j'ai eu l'impression que le tag était sponsoré par Adidas)

Thérèse said...

Les premières couleurs automnales sont magnifiques et les explications toujours aussi vives.

Anonymous said...

Many, many photos and in a lot of them I saw signs of autumn. Here, too, the leaves are turning yellow and red and brown, it seems as if it has happened overnight.

claude said...

Une belle avenue avec de beaux immeubles, tout ce qui fait la beauté de Paris. Merci pour l'historique du nom de cette avenue. Très intéressant !

Shammickite said...

What elegant and imposing buildings. When I win the lottery (hahaha!) I shall move into the largest and most luxurious apartment here.... and I shall invite you for tea and crumpets, Peter!

Claudia said...

Gorgeous!

Maxime said...

Avenue Foch !
Si l'on cherche une adresse pour mettre en confiance son banquier, c'est certainement par là qu'il faut commencer.
Mon adresse actuelle ne m'offre hélas pas le crédit nécessaire ne serait-que pour rêver de m'y installer.
Mais en attendant, c'est une belle balade que tu nous proposes là.

alice said...

Comment ça, tu ne nous fait pas la liste des habitants? Mais on voudrait bien tout savoir pourtant!

Alain said...

C'est beau, mais cela ne me donne pas envie d'y habiter
Le week end prochain je suis à Quimper et celui d'après en auvergne.

PeterParis said...

virginia:
As long as we stay inside Paris, nothing is really far! Do you have good shoes?

krystyna:
I would not like to be the judge... but it's certainly one of the...

hedp:
I will check on your nightshots, don't worry!

PeterParis said...

cutie:
Green space is necessary, but you need space!

lyliane:
... et maintenant tu ne fréquentes pas du beau monde? :-)

mathilde:
C'est sur qu'on sent l'automne arriver! Ca va nous donner des belle couleurs à voir et à photographier!

PeterParis said...

olivier:
Je vrai que j'ai un faible pour Guimard! Il y a pire comme faiblesse! :-)

cergie:
Finalement, on ne trouve pas trop des administations. Quelques ambassades ... mais je crois quand' même surtout des habitations.

On venant de Lille, tu as cherché ton appart par là? :-))

hpy:
Effectivement! Foch a laissé son nom un peu partout!

PeterParis said...

bleeding orange:
Il a fait beau un peu avant et pendant ce week(end, mais j'ai pris les photos la veille du beau temps!

C'est facile à te faire des compliments, bien mérités!

fahren:
C'est le mot Grimaldi qui vous avez fait venir ici? J'ai visité votre blog bien monégasque, inéressant!

adam:
I love London! Let's call it a sound competition (like for the Olympic Games)! :-)

PeterParis said...

deepak:
I did not particularly pay attention to the cars, but there are a few really nice ones around! However, not comparable with what you find in West End London!!

deslilas:
Va savoir ce que les habitants déclarent?

joann:
... but you know Pars quite well I think. You should not be too surprised!

PeterParis said...

nathalie:
Je ne suis pas le seul à connaitre les beaux quartiers, je crois! :-)) Tu connais bien Paris - et ses environs!

therese:
Oui, les couleurs commencent à venir!

ingrid:
Maybe we have to hurry up to take some nice shots!

PeterParis said...

claude:
L'ancienne parisienne va finir par bien connaitre sa ville! :-))

shammickite:
No champagne? :-)

claudia:
Thanks! Happy to see you leave a comment here again!

PeterParis said...

maxime:
On ne peut pas laisser une fausse adresse? :-)

alice:
Elle risque d'être longue. Tu es prête? (Lyliane a déjà donné les Kennedy, moi j'ai laissé les Grimaldi...)

alain:
Alors à plus tard!

Virginia said...

Peter,
Oh yes, shoes made for walking the streets of Paris are number one on my list!
V

Shionge said...

Once again, thank you for a lovely history lesson and a charming posts with lots of photos :)

I am always walking down memory lane when I visit your blog Peter and thank you for being here in blogsland :D

Anonymous said...

Lovely. I don't mind reading and studying the map at 4:30 AM because I am sipping coffee and still in pain. I just enjoy your work and your photos and your knowledge of Paris. I can imagine what you could say about Sweden.

PeterParis said...

virginia:
Boots or shoes made for walking?

shionge:
Happy to be there and to have met you!

abraham:
4:30!!!

Anonymous said...

Great work.

Anonymous said...

LOVELY pictures (and a very interesting blog)!

Would you mind VERY much taking a photo of nro. 26 Square de l'avenue Foch and post it here some time? ;)

Just curious (Grace Kelly lived there) - and I don't anticipate going back to Paris any time soon, so...

Have a great time! :)