Built on a disused 19th-century railway viaduct, the Coulée verte René-Dumont, better known as the Promenade Plantée, was the world's first elevated park of its kind when it opened in 1993, years before it inspired New York's High Line. Here is how to walk it in order, from the Viaduc des Arts near Bastille to the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, in a little under two hours of easy walking.
Bastille / Opéra Bastille, the starting point
Coming out of the Bastille or Opéra Bastille metro station, look for the stone arches of the Viaduc des Arts running along Avenue Daumesnil: this is where the walk begins. Inside these restored arches, around sixty artisan and design workshops (cabinetmakers, upholsterers, instrument makers, galleries) now occupy the old technical spaces of the former Vincennes railway line.
The viaduct and its elevated gardens
A staircase leads up to the roof of the Viaduc des Arts, where the walkway comes into its own: a long ribbon of elevated gardens running several meters above the street, planted with roses, perennials and small trees along the old rail bed. This raised section is pedestrian-only from end to end: no bicycles or rollerblades are allowed here, unlike some other Paris promenades.
A shadier, greener stretch
Further east, the path narrows and dims, passing through a tree-lined alley and a short covered passage that recalls the site's railway past. This shift between light and shade is part of the walk's charm and a good excuse to slow down.
Jardin de Reuilly
The walkway briefly drops back down to ground level to cross the Jardin de Reuilly, a wide open lawn spanned by a metal footbridge that lets the route continue overhead. It is a good spot to rest in the shade or have a picnic before pressing on.
The end of the route, near the Bois de Vincennes
The Promenade Plantée comes to an end a little further on, close to the ring road and the gates of the Bois de Vincennes, in a greener and quieter setting than where the walk began. This last stretch, wider and more wooded, marks the finish of the original viaduct route.
Continuing on to the Bois de Vincennes
Walkers who want to keep going can carry straight on into the Bois de Vincennes, which begins right where the Coulée verte ends, with its Lac Daumesnil, the Parc Floral and several more kilometers of paths. This extension turns the walk into a half-day outing.
Tips
The walk starts at the Bastille or Opéra Bastille metro station (lines 1, 5 and 8) on the Viaduc des Arts, Avenue Daumesnil, then follows the Coulée verte René-Dumont eastward, alternating between elevated sections and street-level stretches, notably at the Jardin de Reuilly. It ends about 4.5 kilometers later at the gates of the Bois de Vincennes, near the Porte Dorée metro station (line 8), for roughly ninety minutes to two hours of easy walking with regular stops. Wear comfortable shoes, since the raised sections involve several staircases (ramps exist at some access points but not all), and remember the elevated viaduct is for walkers only, with no cycling or rollerblading allowed. A weekday morning offers the quietest walk, and the gardens are at their best in late spring and early summer.
