Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Long and Skinny Promenade Plantée

The Promenade Plantée is a 3-mile-long elevated park in the 12th arrondissement. It was constructed in 1995 on an abandoned 19th-century railway viaduct, which had ceased operations in 1969. The parkway runs eastward from the Opéra Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes, making its way through viaducts, embankments, railway tracks and small tunnels.
The arcades beneath the viaduct have been transformed into arts and crafts workshops, and this section is called the "Viaduc des Arts". The park was designed by landscape architect Jacques Vergely and architect Philippe Mathieu.
Pedestrians enjoy a garden environment for their upper-level walk, and cyclists have a route at ground level. At the 3 mile mark the routes come together at ground level and proceed on to the Bois de Vincennes. The high-level route has some enclosed sections, as when it passes between modern buildings, and some open sections with expansive views. The Promenade Plantée is currently the only elevated park in the world.
Métro: Bastille

From Place de la Bastille, walk southeast along Rue de Lyon, hugging the Opéra Bastille (ugly as all get-out – you can’t miss it). Turn left onto Ave. Daumesnil, and after a short distance you will see stairs and elevators on your left to enable you to ascend to the special elevated promenade.


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