In the footsteps of Georges Brassens in Paris

de fr

Originally from Sète, Georges Brassens (1921–1981) lived in Paris for around forty years and frequently referred to the city in his songs. This route takes you through Paris, passing by places where Brassens lived or worked, as well as sites that are directly or indirectly linked to some of his songs. Rich in heritage and passing through a variety of neighbourhoods, this city route is not just for die-hard ‘Brassens fans’.

Details

n°204156
Creation:
Last update:
–
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.86 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 463 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 705 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 420 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 89 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Paris (75000)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 48.8772° / E 2.406622°
  • ⚑
    End: N 48.832692° / E 2.288444°
  • Hour-by-hour weather
    Discover Visorando Premium

Photos

Le poète
Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre
Le Mur des Je t'Aime
Église paroissiale de Montmartre

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Sur les pas de Georges Brassens : Belleville et Canal Saint-Martin

    In the footsteps of Georges Brassens: Belleville and Canal Saint-Martin

    ↔4.84 mi ↗43 ft ↘279 ft
    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.
    View the route
  2. 2
    Sur les pas de Georges Brassens : la Goutte d'Or, Montmartre et Trinité

    In the footsteps of Georges Brassens: La Goutte d'Or, Montmartre and Trinité

    ↔4.72 mi ↗272 ft ↘305 ft
    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").
    View the route
  3. 3
    Sur les pas de Georges Brassens : Madeleine, Louvre et Cherche-Midi

    In the footsteps of Georges Brassens: Madeleine, Louvre and Cherche-Midi

    ↔5.11 mi ↗82 ft ↘23 ft
    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.
    View the route
  4. E
    Sur les pas de Georges Brassens : Montparnasse, Plaisance et Brancion

    In the footsteps of Georges Brassens: Montparnasse, Plaisance and Brancion

    ↔4.19 mi ↗66 ft ↘98 ft
    This fourth and final section of our walk dedicated to Georges Brassens takes us to the main places where he lived in Paris, including the famous Impasse Florimont. We walk along a few cobbled and flower-lined passages, cross the public park that bears his name and finish with a section of the old Petite Ceinture railway line.
    View the route

Notes

Public transport is the best way to access this walk. The starting and finishing points, mostly railway stations, were partly chosen for their accessibility via a variety of transport options.

The walk has been divided into four stages, which have been deliberately kept short given the specific nature of an urban route and the density of heritage sites to explore. Of course, everyone is free to complete the stage or stages of their choice, to combine several in a row depending on their circumstances, and so on.

For further details, see the information sheets for each section.

The four stages of this route were completed by the author in February 2016.

Worth a visit

See the information sheets for each section. Whilst it is not possible to be exhaustive, the sites listed are either linked to the life and work of Georges Brassens or are of more general interest.

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

5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Kyla
Kyla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this remarkable tour, which is very well researched, full of anecdotes and various details, away from the busy thoroughfares, yet without overlooking any of the interesting sights.

Machine-translated

btheot
btheot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A really lovely walk through the capital.
The diversity of the places you pass through is a real highlight.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking In the footsteps of Georges Brassens: Belleville and Canal Saint-Martin

Visorando Member
Sur les pas de Georges Brassens : Belleville et Canal Saint-Martin
↔4.84 mi ↗+43 ft ↘-279 ft ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Paris
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.

Walking Green spaces in the north of Paris’s 20th arrondissement

Visorando Member
Espaces verts au Nord du 20e arrondissement de Paris
↔8.55 mi ↗+325 ft ↘-433 ft ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Paris
Paris’s 20th arrondissement is a working-class, lively and multicultural area. It is characterised by a high degree of social diversity and a strong artistic identity, with artists’ studios and alternative cultural venues. However, there are notable differences in atmosphere, urban layout and population between the north and south of the arrondissement. The cosmopolitan north of the arrondissement features a dense urban fabric, sloping streets, modest buildings and street art. It includes the Belleville and Ménilmontant neighbourhoods, with their relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Here you’ll find one of Paris’s major parks, the Parc de Belleville, which offers a panoramic view of the capital, as well as peaceful little gardens.

Walking From the Butte du Chapeau Rouge to the Wall of Love

Visorando Member
De la Butte du Chapeau Rouge au Mur des Je t'aime
↔7.05 mi ↗+522 ft ↘-538 ft ◔3h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Paris
A very pleasant walk through the parks of north-east Paris, ending in Montmartre.

Walking A visit to Belleville Cemetery

Visorando Member
Un tour au cimetière de Belleville
↔1.13 mi ↗+23 ft ↘-43 ft ◔0h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Paris
A visit to the highest-altitude cemetery within Paris city limits, which boasts a rich variety of plant life and is home to the graves of several notable figures. A monument within the cemetery and a church outside it evoke a painful episode in the history of the Paris Commune.

Walking From Mairie des Lilas to Bagnolet via the parks and forts

Visorando Member
De Mairie des Lilas à Bagnolet par les parcs et les forts
↔11.76 mi ↗+633 ft ↘-755 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Les Lilas (Seine-Saint-Denis)
An original walk from metro station to metro station, covering 19 or 16 km. It offers a rather surprising exploration of Seine-Saint-Denis, which is green for much of the route as it makes the most of the numerous parks and green spaces, skirting the forts of Romainville, Noisy and Rosny. Discover beautiful monuments, remarkable trees and interesting buildings, with superb views of Paris and its suburbs.

Walking The bestiary of Belleville, Père Lachaise and Nation

Visorando Member
Le bestiaire de Belleville, Père Lachaise et Nation
↔4.99 mi ↗+144 ft ↘-328 ft ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Paris
This urban route crosses the 20th arrondissement of Paris from north to south in search of animal representations. From Place des Fêtes to Place de la Nation via the charming Église de Charonne, you will mainly walk along quiet streets and a few pleasant passages and alleys.

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

Visorando Member
La Petite Ceinture du 20e, la Mouzaïa et le Bassin de la Villette
↔4.24 mi ↗+184 ft ↘-295 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Paris
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.

Walking In the heights of Paris: Buttes Chaumont, Butte Bergeyre, Belleville

Visorando Member
Sur les hauts de Paris : Buttes Chaumont, Butte Bergeyre, Belleville
↔4.90 mi ↗+436 ft ↘-469 ft ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Paris
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.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.