Porte de la Vilette walks

The third stage of this urban journey crosses the north-eastern districts of Paris, including the lively Belleville neighbourhood. We wind our way through the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and then climb the discreet Butte Bergeyre, which offers an original view of Montmartre. We then pass by the Rue Piat viewpoint, which offers a panoramic view. A few touches of urban heritage and street art, as well as a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin, complete the picture.

This is an exotic and green route on the outskirts of Paris, in a highly urbanised environment. The first part takes you through small streets, passageways and "villas", with small houses of diverse architecture and some street art. After crossing two wooded parks, the route runs alongside the Canal de l'Ourcq and ends in the Parc de la Villette.

In this first section of our "Brassens" walk, we first pass through the Belleville and Ménilmontant neighbourhoods, with their narrow streets, footpaths and stairways. Then, after crossing the symbol-rich Place de la République, we walk along the charming Canal Saint-Martin.

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.

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.

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").

This is an immersion in a historic district of Paris that was largely untouched by Haussmann's urban renewal and has retained many narrow streets, with architecture still dominated by 17th-century mansions. The suggested itinerary winds its way through narrow streets and gardens, allowing you to discover a rich heritage, including the Carreau du Temple, the Hôtel du Grand Veneur, the gardens of the National Archives, the Place des Vosges and the Hôtel Sully.

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.

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.