Place Saint-Georges (Paris) 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.

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.

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.

Discover Montmartre hill, via the small paths, the Saint Vincent cemetery, Dalida, the old village, the Basilica, superb views of Paris.

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.

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.

A north-south walk through the 10th, 11th and 12th arrondissements of Paris, in search of depictions of animals. Throughout the first half of the route, these are mainly found in murals. The second half offers greater diversity in terms of animal subjects.

This second section takes us to the old cabaret (Chez Patachou) where Georges Brassens performed in public for the first time. The walk through Montmartre, with its slopes, paths and stairways, is particularly pleasant (best done in the "low tourist season").