Montmartre walks

The ninth arrondissement of Paris is distinguished by its lively and central character. It has historical links to the world of entertainment, with numerous theatres, cinemas and concert halls. As a shopping district, it is home to department stores, boutiques and iconic covered arcades. It blends Haussmann-style architecture with more recent buildings, whilst remaining a residential area.After the first two arrondissements, the ninth has the least amount of green space. These are mainly local, much-frequented gardens that play an important social role. The area as a whole reflects an old urban fabric, not particularly conducive to the creation of large natural spaces.

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.

Until the advent of the railway, fishmongers brought fish to Paris from the ports of the North Sea and the English Channel in horse-drawn convoys. Their route through Paris, as far as Les Halles, has left its mark in the names of a number of lanes that this urban itinerary more or less follows, with a few detours through streets and alleyways that deserve it.

The 17th arrondissement of Paris is distinguished by its great urban and social diversity. The eastern part of the arrondissement combines working-class neighbourhoods with areas undergoing regeneration. Formerly a railway and industrial area, it has undergone significant recent transformation, notably with the Clichy-Batignolles eco-neighbourhood. Martin Luther King Park exemplifies this urban regeneration, designed according to ecological principles. But visitors also appreciate the charm of the Square des Batignolles or the Square des Épinettes, with their typical 19th-century landscape, or the tranquillity of the Square de la Villa Sainte-Croix.

Baron Haussmann transformed Paris between 1852 and 1870. The 9th arrondissement of Paris is the epicentre of this transformation: the new roads, grand boulevards and crossroads highlight the buildings adapted to life under the Second Empire, including department stores, the opera house, theatres, music halls, churches, press headquarters, banks, covered passages, Morris columns, kiosks, etc. This tour will introduce you to the witnesses of this era and how they have adapted to today's Paris.

Crossing the Seine on the famous Pont des Arts, this third section takes us from the right bank to the left bank, which Brassens had a marked preference for. It is also an opportunity to visit some of the highlights of Parisian heritage: Place Beauvau and the Elysée Palace, Place Vendôme, the Louvre Museum (with its glass pyramid), the Institut de France, etc.

The 17th arrondissement of Paris is distinguished by its great urban and social diversity. The western part of the arrondissement is more residential and middle-class than the east, with the Ternes and Monceau neighbourhoods. It is characterised by varied architecture ranging from Haussmann-style buildings to contemporary blocks. Well-served by public transport, it combines Parisian traditions with modernity. The western part of the arrondissement offers two long walks and around twenty green spaces, including picturesque gardens such as the Square Saint-Odile and the undulating Jardin Claire Motte.

From Place de l'Opéra to Les Halles, via the Church of Notre-Dame de Lorette and the Palais Royal Gardens, this urban trail explores the1st,2nd and9th arrondissements of Paris in search of animal representations.

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.

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.