The Petite Ceinture in Paris

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A tour of Paris following the route of the former Petite Ceinture railway line! A highly varied itinerary, reflecting the diversity of the arrondissements it passes through, which focuses on the converted sections of the old railway line, squares and gardens, and the narrow streets and passageways away from traffic.

Details

n°1132682
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 36.37 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 10 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 863 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 863 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 364 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 85 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Paris (75000)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 48.848074° / E 2.260042°
  • ⚑
    End: N 48.847614° / E 2.257846°
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Photos

Una statue du parc.
Un mimosa du parc Georges Brassens
Vente à la criée
Dans la Cité des Fleurs

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Le village d'Auteuil et le Parc André Citroën

    The village of Auteuil and Parc André Citroën

    ↔2.75 mi ↗16 ft ↘52 ft
    An urban route in two stages. First, you stroll through the narrow streets of the Auteuil neighbourhood, which was for a long time a village outside Paris, encountering a variety of architecture. Then, after crossing the Seine on the famous Pont Mirabeau, you zigzag through Parc André Citroën, where plant, mineral and aquatic worlds intermingle.
    View the route
  2. 2
    La Petite Ceinture du 15e, Georges Brassens et la Petite Ceinture du 14e

    The Petite Ceinture in the 15th arrondissement, Georges Brassens and the Petite Ceinture in the 14th arrondissement

    ↔2.77 mi ↗115 ft ↘0 ft
    A short walk to relax and get away from it all. First, take the old Petite Ceinture railway line, which runs high above the city. Then stroll through Parc Georges Brassens, which offers a variety of paths and places to stop and rest. Finally, you pass through the 14th arrondissement and follow the Petite Ceinture line to the Porte d'Orléans.
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  3. 3
    Le Parc Montsouris et la Petite Ceinture du 13e

    Montsouris Park and the Petite Ceinture in the 13th arrondissement

    ↔2.72 mi ↗105 ft ↘148 ft
    A short walk in the south of Paris, partly along the old Petite Ceinture railway line. Before strolling through the wooded park, the Montsouris neighbourhood reveals its quiet houses with varied architecture.
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  4. 4
    Les tours du 13e et le village de Bercy

    The towers of the 13th arrondissement and the village of Bercy

    ↔3.99 mi ↗144 ft ↘167 ft
    An itinerary in the heart of the rapidly changing south-eastern districts of Paris! From the towers and slabs of Ivry to the fountain with lions, via the François Mitterrand Library, the park and the former wine-growing village of Bercy, the route avoids busy roads as much as possible and favours narrow streets and passageways, squares and gardens.
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  5. 5
    La Petite Ceinture du 12e et le village de Charonne

    The Petite Ceinture in the 12th arrondissement and the village of Charonne

    ↔4.83 mi ↗161 ft ↘43 ft
    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.
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  6. 6
    La Petite Ceinture du 20e, la Mouzaïa et le Bassin de la Villette

    The Petite Ceinture in the 20th arrondissement, La Mouzaïa and the Bassin de la Villette

    ↔4.24 mi ↗184 ft ↘295 ft
    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.
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  7. 7
    La Villette, la Chapelle et les passages du 18e

    La Villette, La Chapelle and the passages of the 18th arrondissement

    ↔4.21 mi ↗30 ft ↘16 ft
    A walk through the revitalised neighbourhoods of Paris’s 19th and 18th arrondissements. The Jardins d’Éole and Rosa Luxemburg add a lovely touch of greenery. By the end of the walk, the narrow streets and passageways make you forget the main thoroughfares.
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  8. 8
    Les Grandes Carrières, les Épinettes et les Batignolles

    Les Grandes Carrières, Les Épinettes and Les Batignolles

    ↔4.64 mi ↗7 ft ↘62 ft
    A journey through the northern districts of Paris in a new light, with the old Petite Ceinture railway line as a common thread. The many flower-filled passages, squares and gardens allow us to forget the hustle and bustle of the capital for a while.
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  9. 9
    La promenade Péreire et le quartier Dauphine

    The Péreire walk and the Dauphine district

    ↔2.95 mi ↗75 ft ↘10 ft
    A short walk in the western districts of Paris. After the flower-filled Promenade Péreire, you walk along or cross a few wide avenues offering a beautiful view of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile.
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  10. E
    La Petite Ceinture du 16e et les Serres d'Auteuil

    The Petite Ceinture in the 16th arrondissement and the Serres d'Auteuil

    ↔3.28 mi ↗26 ft ↘69 ft
    An eclectic journey through Paris's 16th arrondissement. After an initially urban start, the route takes you along the Sentier Nature trail, on the embankment of the former Petite Ceinture railway line. The walk ends with a stroll through the Square des Poètes and a visit to the Serres d'Auteuil, which will delight amateur botanists.
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Notes

Each stage is served by public transport (Metro, Tram, Bus, RER), the most convenient means of access in the highly urbanised context of this route.

As each stage is relatively short (6km on average), it is possible to complete two in a row if you wish.

The central theme of this route is the former Petite Ceinture railway line, which is currently being developed for public access. All sections that have already been converted into pedestrian walkways are covered in this walk. Other sections are currently under development: once they are open, the route can be re-planned.

For further information, see the detailed descriptions.

Two of the 10 stages of this route were completed by the author in February and May 2015, respectively. All the others were completed between February and May 2018.

Worth a visit

Each stage has its own character, reflecting the districts it passes through. The route takes you through numerous squares and gardens. The built heritage is rich and varied. See the detailed information sheets.

The Petite Ceinture line, which ran around Paris, was opened between 1852 and 1889. It was closed to passengers in 1934, with the exception of the section between Porte d’Auteuil and Pont Cardinet, which was closed in 1985. Freight traffic ceased in the early 1990s. Still owned by the SNCF, the line is undergoing gradual development by the City of Paris with a view to opening it to the public.

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

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Zabeth2020
Zabeth2020

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk, well signposted.

Machine-translated

Netra
Netra ★

Hello Augustine,

Thank you for your suggestion. That’s what I’ve tried to do… In particular, all sections of the old railway line that have been converted into public footpaths are included.

As for the rest, it isn’t always possible to stick as close as possible to the old line; there can be lovely things to see if you stray a little from it, and you also need starting and finishing points that are easily accessible by public transport.

Machine-translated

Augustine GIROUX
Augustine GIROUX

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route deviates too far from the Petite Ceinture. It would be better if the route ran as close as possible to the Petite Ceinture.

Machine-translated

Kyla
Kyla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb walk centred on the ‘Petite Ceinture’ railway line, with a section of it featured at every stage as a nod to its history!
Each of the 10 routes is surprisingly original and full of surprises.
Complementing the GPX file, the suggested route is described in great detail, which is extremely helpful for those – more numerous than one might think – who have no sense of direction and get lost everywhere!
It’s also a great idea to include brief explanatory notes on points of interest along the way, as well as opening hours for public spaces… perhaps it would also be useful to indicate where to find toilets on the route?
Many thanks for sharing this

Machine-translated

Netra
Netra ★
• Edited:

Hello Rando92100,

Thank you for your comment. It’s true that the route follows very few signposted sections: the choice of route and the sights to see took precedence!

And that is why detailed descriptions and precise route maps are available

Machine-translated

Rando92100
Rando92100

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An interesting walk, but there are no signposts.

Machine-translated

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