From the Basilica of Saint-Denis to Notre-Dame de Paris

de fr

This urban itinerary, comprising five short stages, links two masterpieces of Gothic art in the Île-de-France region. It offers an opportunity to discover a rich and diverse heritage: medieval remains, 17th-century mansions, industrial and modern architecture, street art, and more. The purely urban sections are interspersed with a walk along the Canal Saint-Denis and a stroll through several parks and gardens, including those of La Villette and the Buttes Chaumont.

Details

n°433634
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.04 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 554 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 528 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 328 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 89 ft

Photos

De la cité à Saint Louis
Tour de l'horloge
Fontaine-abreuvoir
Jardin de la bibliothèque Nationale

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Parcours historique dans Saint-Denis et promenade le long du canal

    Historical route through Saint-Denis and walk along the canal

    ↔3.91 mi ↗62 ft ↘13 ft
    The first stage of this urban journey consists of two distinct sections. The first section, the historical trail, invites us to trace the passage of time from the legend of Saint-Denis and the city’s origins right up to the 21st century, with the help of some twenty richly documented information points. Next, we follow the Canal Saint-Denis along its pedestrian quay back to Paris.
    View the route
  2. 2
    Un tour au Parc de la Villette

    A walk around Parc de la Villette

    ↔1.62 mi ↗26 ft ↘10 ft
    Situated alongside the Canal Saint-Denis and the Canal de l’Ourcq, the Parc de la Villette combines old industrial buildings, modern architecture, sites dedicated to science and culture, and a multitude of small themed gardens. This short walk takes you through the park, with plenty of detours, to discover this diverse heritage.
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  3. 3
    Sur les hauts de Paris : Buttes Chaumont, Butte Bergeyre, Belleville

    In the heights of Paris: Buttes Chaumont, Butte Bergeyre, Belleville

    ↔4.90 mi ↗436 ft ↘469 ft
    The third stage of this urban journey crosses the north-eastern districts of Paris, including the lively Belleville neighbourhood. We wind our way through the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and then climb the discreet Butte Bergeyre, which offers an original view of Montmartre. We then pass by the Rue Piat viewpoint, which offers a panoramic view. A few touches of urban heritage and street art, as well as a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin, complete the picture.
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  4. 4
    Promenade dans le Marais

    Walk in the Marais

    ↔3.48 mi ↗3 ft ↘10 ft
    This is an immersion in a historic district of Paris that was largely untouched by Haussmann's urban renewal and has retained many narrow streets, with architecture still dominated by 17th-century mansions. The suggested itinerary winds its way through narrow streets and gardens, allowing you to discover a rich heritage, including the Carreau du Temple, the Hôtel du Grand Veneur, the gardens of the National Archives, the Place des Vosges and the Hôtel Sully.
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  5. E
    Le Village Saint-Paul, l'Île Saint-Louis et l'Île de la Cité

    The Village Saint-Paul, Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité

    ↔3.13 mi ↗26 ft ↘26 ft
    The last stage of this journey takes us to the historic heart of Paris, where we discover a rich heritage. The labyrinthine streets of the Village Saint-Paul are followed by the Île Saint-Louis and its 17th-century mansions. The Île de la Cité is a delight in itself, with Notre-Dame as its highlight. And the Seine is always in the background... The route and description take into account areas closed to the public following the Notre Dame fire in April 2019.
    View the route

Notes

Trainers are sufficient for this route, which is entirely on tarmac, concrete or paved surfaces. There are numerous bars, restaurants and shops all along the route.

There are plenty of options for accessing the route by public transport, at the start and finish of each stage as well as along the way.

For further details, particularly regarding the opening hours of public parks and certain buildings, see the information sheets for the individual stages.

The five stages of the route were completed by the author between December 2016 and January 2017.

Worth a visit

Major sites include:
- The Basilica of Saint-Denis (12th century).
- The Stade de France (late 20th century).
- The Saint-Denis Canal.
- The Parc de la Villette, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie and the Géode.
- The Parc des Buttes Chaumont.
- The Butte Bergeyre, accessible via steep steps.
- The viewing point in Parc de Belleville, Rue Piat.
- The Saint-Martin Canal.
- Place de la République.
- The Carreau du Temple.
- The gardens of the National Archives
- Place des Vosges.
- The city walls built by Philippe Auguste.
- Île Saint-Louis and its 17th-century mansions.
- Île de la Cité.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris (12th–13th centuries).
- The banks of the Seine.

For further details, see the information sheets for the various stages.

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Kyla
Kyla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

From a basilica to a cathedral: an idea that’s appealing for its originality!
It’s a delight to rediscover the neighbourhoods of north-east Paris that we thought we knew so well, before finishing the walk in the heart of the capital.
A few landmarks are out of date for the last two stages in February 2019 … but Paris is a vibrant city in a state of constant change!
Both the route map and the description are useful as they complement each other, so you always manage to find your way.
Thanks :-)

Machine-translated

Netra
Netra ★

Hello,

This walk is divided into five stages. As each stage is short, you can, of course, complete two or three in a row.

More generally, as this is an urban route that passes close to a large number of public transport stops (underground, tram, bus), it can be adapted to suit your preferences.

Machine-translated

ROVisorando
ROVisorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This walk is too long for me, but it can easily be split into two, which would be perfect!

Machine-translated

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.