Place Colette (Paris) walks

A long urban trail on the theme of sundials and sites related to astronomy scattered throughout Paris: the Paris meridian, observatories, gnomons, etc. Best done on a sunny day so you can read the time along the way! The sundials are often high up, sometimes hidden by trees that have grown... you may have to search hard to find them.

An urban route steeped in history, where 16th- and 17th-century buildings stand alongside modern architecture. This is how you will go from the Palais Royal to the Forum des Halles, from the Church of Saint-Eustache to the Centre Beaubourg, and from the Tour Saint-Jacques to the Opéra Bastille. The itinerary winds its way through streets, alleys, passageways and gardens, offering visitors the chance to discover a rich and diverse heritage.

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.

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.

A walk between Châtelet and Austerlitz, along picturesque streets rich in Parisian history with many points of interest: gardens, monuments, building facades, etc. Depending on your pace and curiosity, the route can take between two and four hours.

From the heart to the outskirts of the capital, an urban route that crosses the Les Halles and Beaubourg districts, climbs the Butte Montmartre and descends to Clignancourt. Shopping streets, alleys, passageways and stairways await you.

From the heart to the outskirts of the capital, an urban route that winds through the narrow streets of the 6th arrondissement before reaching the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and its Romanesque bell tower. We then cross the 7th arrondissement and its wide avenues, as well as the Seine, after passing through Île des Cygnes, at the end of which stands a replica of the Statue of Liberty. The route ends in the 16th arrondissement with a few mansions and Art Nouveau buildings.

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.

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 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.