Architectural diversity in Puteaux

Starting point and access: Puteaux station.
- Transilien - Line U, between La Défense and La Verrière, or Line L, on the section between Paris-Saint-Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite or Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche.
- Tram - Line T2 (Puteaux station).
Take the Rue de la République exit at the front of the tram on the platform for the service running from Porte de Versailles to Pont de Bezons. If arriving from the opposite direction by tram or Transilien (shared platform), cross the tram tracks carefully at the designated crossing. If arriving by Transilien towards La Défense, use the underpass first.

(S) Take the footbridge over Rue de la République and immediately turn right down the steps running alongside the Jardin des Vignes. At the bottom, turn left, cross Rue de la République at the pedestrian crossing and walk down Rue Charles Chenu. At the Stop sign, turn right into Rue Victor Hugo. At the next junction, head right up Boulevard Richard Wallace towards the station situated on the hill.

Opposite a commemorative stele, turn left into Rue Rouget de Lisle. After number 3, turn right into Passage Marianne. Climb the steps and go under the railway line. On the other side, turn right and follow a path alongside the railway line. After about fifty metres, there are two options depending on whether the Jardin du Belvédère is open or not:
- if it is open, enter (on the left) and walk up to the orientation table;
- otherwise, continue along the path which soon turns left and, at the end, turn left towards the garden entrance, opposite the gate to Offenbach Park.

(1) Continue along the street (to the left as you leave the Jardin du Belvédère) and pass between the brick buildings of the Résidence Cartault (built in 1922–1925). At the traffic lights, go straight on. At the entrance to the old cemetery, turn left and head downhill. At the traffic lights, turn right and note the modern buildings on the left. Cross Avenue des Tilleuls on the right and, shortly afterwards, turn right into Passage des Glycines.

At the end, turn right (note the beautiful houses at nos. 30 and 28). At the junction, turn left onto Avenue des Tilleuls. At the end (opposite the brick-built Résidence Palissy), turn left. Look out for a tall building topped with bell-tower-like roofs and take the^first right, Rue Gutemberg. Go straight on until you reach Rue de la République.

(2) Follow this street to the right and note the brick Cité Lorrieux (1954) on the opposite pavement. At the traffic lights, go straight on and immediately turn right into Parc du Moulin. Keep the mill on your right and walk alongside a building on your left. At the corner of this building, turn left then right, towards the Charles de Gaulle memorial.

Just before the memorial, go through a gate on the left, then past a chicane, and take the footbridge over Rue de la République. Continue along the street and walk past the Marius Jacotot school complex (brick and glass tiles, 1936) on your right. Then turn right onto Rue Sadi Carnot and take the bridge over the railway line (as you exit, note a narrow building on the left). Then head down Square des Larrys, with two options: straight ahead via a flight of stairs or an escalator, or zigzagging down a flight of stairs on the right.

(3) Then walk down Rue Monge. Cross Rue Gambetta on the left, then Rue Montaigne. Then cross Rue de la République at the pedestrian crossing on the left. Continue between a weeping cedar (on the left) and a Morris column (on the right) and follow a tarmac path running parallel to Rue Chantecoq. After passing a roundabout, turn left then right, and go round the right-hand side of the pond at the foot of the town hall.

With your back to the town hall, go straight on and cross the forecourt. Then cross Place Simone et Antoine Veil and turn right into Rue Jean Jaurès. Take the^second left into Rue Collin. Pass the base of a brick building topped with a bell tower, then walk alongside the Benoît Malon school (concrete, 1926). Cross Rue Henri Martin on the right-hand side, then turn right into a square. Go round a fountain, take the exit at the far end on the right and turn left to reach the entrance to the Théâtre de Puteaux.

(4) With your back to the entrance, go straight ahead and take the^first left, Rue Mars et Roty. At the end, turn right, cross Boulevard Richard Wallace at the traffic lights and follow Rue Gérhard. Take the^third left, Rue Agathe. At the end, turn left into Rue Voltaire. Take the^first right and walk alongside the Square du Sud on your left.

At the corner of the square, turn left onto Rue du 8 Mai 1945. Cross Boulevard Richard Wallace at the pedestrian crossing and follow Rue Manissier (note the beautiful brick house on the corner). Cross Rue André Leclerc on the right-hand side. Then turn right and then left into Place de l’Église.

(5) Turn left at the fountain. At the junction, turn right (wall advertisement from 1903 on the corner of Rue Bourgeoise). Then turn left into Passage Saulnier (also marked as "Rue" on site, as on the map). At the junction (information panels about Puteaux during the^First World War), turn right into Rue Benoît Malon.

At the end, turn left into Rue Godefroy then right into Rue des Pavillons. Take the^first left, Rue Rousselle. At the traffic lights, continue straight ahead. Shortly afterwards, turn left into Passage des Roses.

(6) At the exit, turn right. At the Stop sign, continue straight on along Rue Roque de Fillol. At the end, turn left then right to cross the D21 in two stages at the pedestrian crossing.

On the other side, climb the steps towards La Défense. At the top, walk past the foot of the buildings. Take the Passerelle des Vignes over the ring road (see an alternative route in the practical information). You’ll come out onto Cours Michelet.

(7) Turn left and walk past a monumental metal sculpture. At the foot of the Tour Michelet (on the left), veer right and climb two successive flights of stairs (stone steps or escalators, as you prefer). Walk past the base of an engraved tower and emerge onto the Esplanade de La Défense.

Turn left and walk up the esplanade towards the Grande Arche, which is clearly visible. Pass by the base of the towers, each more slender than the last. Note on the right the monument commemorating the defence of Paris in 1870–1871 (which gave its name to the district). You will emerge onto the forecourt at the base of the Grande Arche de La Défense (E).

To get back home:
- RER - Line A, towards Paris or Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Poissy or Cergy.
- Transilien - Line L towards Paris Saint-Lazare or Versailles Rive Droite or Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche.
- Transilien - Line U towards Versailles-Chantiers and La Verrière.
- Metro - Line 1.
- Tram - Line T2.

Trainers are sufficient for this route, which is entirely on tarmac or hard-packed paths.

A detailed map is required (at the very least the one accompanying this description).

Opening hours of parks and public walkways:
- October–May: 09:00–19:00.
- June–September: 09:00–20:00.

Note regarding the Passerelle des Vignes:
In March 2021, the footbridge (located just before (7)) was undergoing works. It was signposted as closed to pedestrians, but crossing was entirely tolerated. If the nature of the works does not allow for this, follow the signposted diversion and take the stairs to the right of the footbridge. At the bottom, turn right and follow the Boulevard Circulaire on your left. Reach another footbridge, climb the stairs leading to it and cross the Boulevard Circulaire. You will emerge onto Cours Michelet; turn left to rejoin the main route at point (7).

Walk completed by the author on 22 March 2021.

Diversity of architectural styles:
Architectural diversity is the theme of this urban walk. The major buildings of interest are highlighted where relevant in the description.

Other places of interest:
- Jardin des Vignes just after the station (S).
- In the Passage Marianne, before (1), an exhibition dedicated to the actor Sean Connery (the exhibition is scheduled to run for the duration of lockdown, so there is some uncertainty).
- Extensive views over the Seine Valley and Paris from the orientation table (1) and, a little further on, from inside the old cemetery in Puteaux (opening: 8.30 am on weekdays, 9.00 am on Sundays; closing: 4.45 pm in winter, 5.45 pm in summer).
- Old mill and Charles de Gaulle memorial in the park behind (2).
- The forecourt and pond of the town hall, between (3) and (4).