La Coulée Verte de Paris, the unusual and hidden walk from Bastille to Vincennes

Paris's Coulée Verte René-Dumont, formerly known as the Promenade Plantée, is a beautiful, little-known walk for Parisians, taking us on a verdant journey from the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes over the Viaduc des Arts. It's an unusual and shady way to discover Paris, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

You've heard of Bastille and Vincennes, but what about the Coulée Verte? Did you really think you'd seen it all in Paris? Since you're so keen to discover new things, we'd like to take you on a tour of a beautiful promenade that's often overlooked except by local residents. Head for the 12th arrondissement for a stroll along the Coulée Verte.

For the record, the Coulée Verte René-Dumont, formerly known as the Promenade Plantée, is over 4.7 km long, stretching from theOpéra Bastille to the boulevard périphérique at Porte de Montempoivre (at the junction of boulevard Carnot, avenue Émile-Laurent and rue Édouard-Lartet). The Coulée Verte follows the route of a former railway line, immersing you in a verdant landscape that can even make you forget the hustle and bustle of the capital.

Here, you'll discover unspoilt wild flora, and you'll love the flower-filled ponds where you can catch a glimpse of the fish that live there.

On this bucolic path, you'll see a different side of the capital. Here, nature has reclaimed its rights over this relic of the industrial era. From the Opéra Bastille, access the promenade via the rue de Lyon, climbing the stairs leading to the Coulée Verte. But you can also access it a little further along, at the level of the boutiques and artists' studios now housed on the Viaduc. From tulips in spring to roses and jasmine in summer, you'll be seduced by the pretty stroll that presents itself as a garden to be explored.

You'll pass over the Boulevard Diderot, a major thoroughfare in the 12th arrondissement that was built by Baron Haussmann in 1853 to link the Seine to the Place de la Nation via the Gare de Lyon, but also over the Jardin de Reuilly, where the passageway is transformed into a suspension bridge .

Along the way, don't miss the chance to discover the works of the street artists who have taken over the site. Take, for example, Caroline Laguerre's paintings at the 12th arrondissement police station.

There are four gardens to discover: Jardin de Reuilly, Square Charles-Péguy, Jardin de la Gare-de-Reuilly and Jardin Hector-Malot.

In short, if you'd like to discover another face of Paris, take a lovely green stroll through the scents of flowers and fountains to refresh yourself before settling down in one of the beautiful gardens along the way, this is a great free discovery for you.

Discover the Paris Coulée Verte map