Paris is full of secret and unusual places to stroll, and theÎle aux Cygnes is a perfect example. Wedged between the 15th and 16th arrondissements, this narrow strip of artificial land is almost a kilometer long and 11m wide, and is a veritable haven of peace in the heart of the capital. Accessible via the Pont de Grenelle and the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, it offers an ideal setting for a stroll away from the hustle and bustle of Paris, with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
L'Île aux Cygnes may not be a large park, but its long, shady central avenue, lined with plane, poplar and chestnut trees, makes it the perfect place for a bucolic stroll. Ideal for joggers, solitary strollers or lovers in search of a moment of peace and quiet, it features numerous benches where you can stop to admire the Seine and the barges cruising along in the sunshine. There are also plenty of dogs on the loose!
Its intimate atmosphere, far from the crowds of the quays of the Seine, makes it an ideal place for relaxation and contemplation, but also for sport, on the downstream end redeveloped in 2012, where you'll find apparatus, climbing walls, fixed bikes and other facilities.
Built in 1827 as a dike to protect the quays of Grenelle from the currents of the Seine, it began life as a simple earth bank, before being converted into a tree-lined promenade in 1873. The former airfield was not intended for public use, but rather as a warehouse, but quickly became a popular spot for strollers, with the occasional Parisian swan.
One of the island's major points of interest is undoubtedly the replica of the Statue of Liberty, located at its western end. Standing 11.5 metres high, it was donated to France by the French community in the United States in 1889, three years after the inauguration of its famous big sister in New York. Its original orientation, facing east, was changed in 1937 to face the Atlantic, symbolizing Franco-American friendship.
The smallest of Paris's three islands, and rather unspoiled by the crowds, the Île aux Cygnes is a charming, bucolic stroll that's well worth a visit when the sun comes back out. To get there, simply take line 10 to Charles Michels, RER C to Avenue du Président-Kennedy or line 6 to Bir-Hakeim or Passy.
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
