THE ALMA DERBY LOVES THE RENÉ-DUMONT COULÉE VERTE
An urban interlude in the heart of Paris? Take a step up and discover the Coulée Verte...
The meeting point is at 44-46 rue de Lyon, a few steps from the Place de la Bastille. Take the small stairs next to the entrance of a parking lot. You will then arrive on the Viaduc des Arts and 4.5 kilometers of green walk spread out in front of you and this until Vincennes.
This green walk, formerly Promenade Plantée, replaces a disused railroad track of the past. From 1853 to 1969, this path was dedicated to the traffic of the railway line that connected the Place de la Bastille to La Varenne-Saint-Maur.
This gives the promenade a linear character. We just have to walk straight ahead, without thinking, and abandon ourselves in our dreams. The Coulée Verte is a guaranteed stroll.
This green and flowery path in the 12th arrondissement of Paris was designed by architect Philippe Mathieux and landscape architect Jacques Vergely to pay tribute to René Dumont (1904-2001), agronomist and ecologist. It combines wild vegetation, typical of railway embankments, and modern landscaping.
These kilometers offer us various Parisian landscapes that we are not used to seeing in the capital. Whether you walk or cycle, you will be able to see several architectural styles of the buildings along the avenue Daumesnil and you will cross bridges, footbridges, tunnels and even the boulevard Diderot...
AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF PARIS
Take a moment to discover some of the art stores housed under the 71 arches of the Viaduc des Arts (which once housed the railroad line).
Several paintings by street artists and several large gardens dot the path.
We invite you to stop especially on the suspension bridge of the Jardin de Reuilly, a garden of 15 200 km2 with a large green lawn to lie down and relax a little. In this garden you will find a specificity: sparkling water available in free access to quench your thirst (a first in France).
We advise you to continue your journey to arrive in a tunnel that will give you the impression of venturing into a cave with small fountains.
If you are accompanied by your children, set up camp in the Square Charles Péguy where they can play in the dedicated areas equipped with slides.
Towards the end of the itinerary, we discover an old wagon, a vestige of the old railway line.
The opening and closing hours of the Coulée Verte vary according to the season!
Photo credit: https://www.unjourdeplusaparis.com/paris-vert/promenade-plantee-coulee-verte-paris