Butte aux Canons walks

A short hike in an urban setting, from station to station, along the Marne and on one of its islands. A walk punctuated by bridges and the many rowing clubs located on the banks.

On the outskirts of Paris, a walk in three stages. First, a stroll along the banks of Lac Daumesnil and its islands, which are home to many birds. Next, a walk through the Bois de Vincennes along the Ruisseau de la Gravelle to the famous racecourse. Finally, a pleasant walk along the towpath of the Marne.

A very pretty urban route in the 12th and 20th arrondissements of Paris. You take the old Petite Ceinture railway line and then wander through passages and numerous flower-filled cul-de-sacs, particularly around Rue des Vignoles. The modern and austere Saint-Esprit church and the oldest and most charming church in Charonne provide two superb and contrasting touches of heritage.

The commune of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés lies entirely within a bend in the Marne. This walk, from station to station, follows almost the entire length of this bend. It can be enjoyed in all seasons and showcases the river and its islands, the residential neighbourhoods along its banks and Charles Trénet, who lived here for part of his life.

A stroll through the 20th and 19th arrondissements of Paris, taking in their diverse neighbourhoods. We cross Ménilmontant, roughly following the old Petite Ceinture railway line, then take a look at the old Belleville aqueduct. The neighbourhood around Rue de la Mouzaïa reveals its sloping streets lined with small houses decorated with flowers. We finish at the edge of the Bassin de la Villette and the Canal Saint-Denis.

The René Dumont greenway is built on the platform of the former railway line that ran from the Gare de la Bastille. After briefly following the Canal Saint-Martin before it flows into the Seine, you follow this green space through the city, first at a height and then at ground level or through short tunnels. The Jardin de Reuilly, Square Charles Péguy and the Friche Ferroviaire at the junction of the former Petite Ceinture line add to the charm of this route.

This third and final section of the Bièvre walks follows the course of the river, which is now underground, through the 13th and 5th arrondissements of Paris. The hike takes you along small streets, through lively neighbourhoods such as the Butte aux Cailles and Rue Mouffetard, and through numerous gardens, including the former Petite Ceinture railway line and the famous Jardin des Plantes.

An urban circular walk in search of the French Revolution routes in two Parisian sites: the Bastille, whose capture had a very strong symbolic impact, and the Odéon suburb, where several key figures of the period lived, worked and gathered, including Marat and Danton. It's also an opportunity to discover the signs of other insurrectionary episodes (July 1830, May 1968) and a superb heritage ranging from the Gallo-Roman to the Middle Ages period.

This is mainly an urban route that starts on the banks of the Marne. It then climbs up to take paths between gardens and enjoy extensive views of the eastern suburbs of Paris. After the Church of Saint-Pierre and the Château d'Ormesson, it crosses the green Morbras Park.

In this first section of our "Brassens" walk, we first pass through the Belleville and Ménilmontant neighbourhoods, with their narrow streets, footpaths and stairways. Then, after crossing the symbol-rich Place de la République, we walk along the charming Canal Saint-Martin.