Arènes de Lutèce walks

Just like Paris’s oldest arrondissement, the gardens of the fifth evoke the past: the Cluny Medieval Garden, Square Viviani, where the capital’s oldest tree, the famous black locust, has watched Paris transform for over 400 years; the Arènes de Lutèce or the Jardin des Plantes, the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants. A tour through bustling neighbourhoods, blending bookshops, student cafés and ancient alleyways in an authentic, timeless atmosphere that embodies the intellectual soul of Paris.

An urban route that allows you to enjoy the fully pedestrianised left bank of the Seine in Paris! You walk pleasantly along the river and pass by some of the capital’s most famous landmarks: Île Saint-Louis, Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame Cathedral, Pont Neuf, the Louvre Museum, the Musée d’Orsay, the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower. Adjust your route according to the water levels of the Seine: see the practical information section.

This marked GR® route around the Île-de-France region (with a few forays into neighbouring departments and regions) complements its "little brother", the GR®1, by forming a circular route around Paris, generally with a slightly larger radius. It follows the same overall pattern: first, a radial section starting from Paris (more precisely from the Pont d'Austerlitz, near the former confluence of the Bièvre and the Seine), going up the entire Bièvre valley, then continuing to Villiers-Saint-Frédéric, in the Yvelines. From there, it is a circular route that loops around the Île-de-France region, close to its borders with neighbouring regions. The route passes through beautiful regions, often untouched by intensive urbanisation, regional nature parks and other protected natural areas, and takes in some architectural wonders.

First stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR® 11, starting from the former confluence of the Bièvre and the Seine at the Pont d'Austerlitz in Paris, to the Massy-Palaiseau station in Essonne. It consists of climbing up the lower part of the Bièvre valley, where the river flows mainly underground but is sometimes exposed to the open air following rehabilitation programmes.

Retrace the steps of Bourvil and Jean Gabin in Claude Autant-Lara’s film. Of course, all this remains rather imaginary, as very little of the film was shot on location. But there is still the route from Rue Poliveau to Rue Lepic and the pleasure of strolling through the streets of Paris. There is one more filming location that lies too far off the main route: 158 Boulevard Hausmann, now the Jacquemart-André Museum, where the scenes of the arrival at the Kommandantur were filmed.

This route on the right bank of the Seine takes us on a journey from medieval times to Art Nouveau. First, we discover the most important remains of Philippe Auguste's city walls and former mansions. We then wind our way through the Sentier district to explore several of its covered passages. This walk is best done during the week, as the covered passages are closed on certain days.

In Paris, the term ‘passages’ refers to covered walkways through which one goes from one street to another by passing through one or more buildings, and which are intended solely for pedestrians. The shops there are splendid, well-stocked, but somewhat expensive. In bad weather, like the Palais-Royal, they serve as promenades and meeting places. They are generally lit by gas.

From the heart of the capital to its outskirts, this urban walk takes you through the Latin Quarter before following the entire length of Paris’s longest street, Rue de Vaugirard. Along the way, you’ll come across Notre-Dame Cathedral (currently undergoing restoration), the Palais du Luxembourg and several churches dating from various periods.

From the heart to the outskirts of the capital, this urban route first takes you through the Marais district, dotted with mansions. Then, under the sign of water, you walk along the Canal Saint-Martin and then the Bassin de la Villette. The route ends at the entrance to the Parc de La Villette.

From the heart to the outskirts of the capital, this urban route starts on the banks of the Seine and then follows the Port de l'Arsenal on the Canal Saint-Martin. It then crosses the Roquette and Charonne districts and takes a few narrow streets and passages bordering the Père Lachaise Cemetery.