Read the Signs: Avenue Foch in Paris

Strolling along the leafy sidewalks of Avenue Foch, one could be forgiven for thinking that this elegant stretch was always this peaceful. After all, it is one of the most sought-after addresses in the world and home to many recognisable family names – Onassis and Rothschild among them. The avenue runs across the swish 16th arrondissement, linking the Arc de Triomphe with the Bois de Boulogne, hence its original name of Avenue du Bois, although it was also known as the Avenue de L’Impératrice. Built during the reign of Napoleon III as a wide, tree-lined promenade flanked by opulent buildings, it was a hit with the local flâneurs.