A route through the heart of Paris

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This route, comprising just five stages, all accessible by public transport, offers an exploration of the capital’s city centre and a journey back in time to the city’s Gallo-Roman foundations.

Details

n°1667267
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 22.13 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 312 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 312 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 213 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 85 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Paris (75000)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.851752° / E 2.327119°
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Photos

Bain Lemoine et Sebastopol
Passage Verdeau paris
Passage Verdeau paris
Passage Briare

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Saint-Germain-des-Prés et la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève

    Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Montagne Sainte-Geneviève

    ↔3.84 mi ↗79 ft ↘105 ft
    A journey into the medieval and even Gallo-Roman past of Paris, following in the footsteps of Sainte-Geneviève, whose namesake hill we climb, whose ancient sarcophagus can be seen in the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, and whose statue can be seen in the Jardin du Luxembourg and on the Pont de la Tournelle. Among other sights, the itinerary follows a section of the old city wall built by Philippe Auguste and crosses the Arènes de Lutèce.
    View the route
  2. 2
    L'enceinte de Philippe Auguste et les passages couverts du Sentier

    The Philippe Auguste enclosure and the covered passages of the Sentier

    ↔4.71 mi ↗26 ft ↘23 ft
    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.
    View the route
  3. 3
    Les passages couverts des faubourgs Montmartre et Saint-Martin

    The covered passages of the Montmartre and Saint-Martin suburbs

    ↔3.94 mi ↗66 ft ↘33 ft
    Between grand boulevards and covered passages, a walk through a lively neighbourhood of the capital. A walk to avoid on Sundays and public holidays when the covered passages may be closed.
    View the route
  4. 4
    L'Opéra, le Parc Monceau et le quartier de Chaillot

    The Opera, Parc Monceau and the Chaillot district

    ↔5.15 mi ↗105 ft ↘36 ft
    A journey through Haussmannian Paris, discovering the architecture of the second half of the 19th century, with a detour to Parc Monceau and a few sites celebrating Franco-American friendship.
    View the route
  5. E
    L'esplanade et les jardins du Trocadéro, le Champs de Mars et les Invalides

    The Trocadéro esplanade and gardens, the Champs de Mars and the Invalides

    ↔4.49 mi ↗36 ft ↘115 ft
    A route that takes you to some of Paris's famous monuments on both banks of the Seine. You will pass through numerous gardens, some well-known and popular, others more secluded and offering a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle.
    View the route

Notes

Each stage is served by public transport (Metro, bus or RER), which is the most convenient way to get around in the highly urbanised area covered by this route.

As each stage is relatively short (7.5 km on average), it is possible to complete two in a row if you wish.

For further information, see the detailed descriptions.

Four stages of this route were completed by the author in November and December 2018, with the fifth in November 2021.

Worth a visit

Each stage has its own distinct character, reflecting the different boroughs it passes through. The route takes you through squares and gardens, as well as, on one section, numerous covered walkways. The built heritage is rich and diverse, spanning the ages from the Gallo-Roman period to the present day.

See the detailed descriptions for further information.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
gauthierchse
gauthierchse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A brilliant itinerary for taking in as many major monuments and sights as possible in the heart of Paris

Machine-translated

Kyla
Kyla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route lives up to its promise and is sure to delight history enthusiasts.
You are guided step by step along a carefully planned route that takes in a series of points of interest.

There are two distinct sections:
During the first two stages, you’ll (re)discover old Paris with its narrow, often cobbled streets, picturesque little squares and, as promised, the remnants of Paris of yesteryear.
The next two stages take you past luxury shops and along beautiful avenues lined with imposing Haussmann-style buildings, some with richly decorated façades.
Then we pass through the wide open spaces – the Trocadéro, Les Invalides – which unfold majestically before us as we walk, before returning to our starting point.

Thank you for this lovely walk :-)

Machine-translated

holly
holly

It hasn’t been recognised yet, so I’m saving it for a hike later this year

Machine-translated

Netra
Netra ★

Hello Cani,

Thank you for your comment and for your interest in this route. You’ll find detailed descriptions on the page for each stage. To access these from the overview page, simply click on the name of a stage.

For example, the detailed page for the first stage: Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.

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↔4.19 mi ↗+66 ft ↘-98 ft ◔2h 00 ▲Easy
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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.