Coulée verte René-Dumont

The Coulée verte changes level as it crosses eastern Paris. Near Bastille, the planted route runs above the street on the old railway viaduct. Further east, bridges, tunnels and wooded cuttings create a more enclosed landscape. That change is the reason to think of it as a route rather than a single garden: a short walk and a complete crossing reveal different parts of the same former railway.

The former railway and the Viaduc des Arts

The line once linked Bastille with La Varenne–Saint-Maur. After railway use ended, the landscape project kept its structures and introduced a succession of planted spaces. The route extends for roughly 4.5 kilometres towards the eastern edge of Paris, with gardens including Hector-Malot, Reuilly and Charles-Péguy along the wider sequence. Stonework, retaining walls and the alignment of the paths still make the railway history legible.

Along avenue Daumesnil, the elevated section offers views of buildings that are difficult to see in the same way from street level. Below, the Viaduc des Arts occupies the former railway arches with craft workshops. The two levels give the same structure different uses: planted promenade above, working spaces and street frontage below. The workshops are individual businesses, so the walk does not depend on every one being open.

Wooded cuttings and choosing a walking section

The eastern stretches have another character. Paths pass through cuttings, mature planting and underpasses, with separated pedestrian and cycling routes in parts of the corridor. Green railings, stone walls and changes in width make these sections feel quite different from the viaduct. These wooded stretches lie beyond the short Bastille section.

A return walk from the western end is the simplest version to fit beside a Bastille lunch. The full route is a longer outing with different public-transport options at its far end. Accessibility needs more care than the word promenade might suggest: the route changes level and depends on particular lifts. The municipality currently reports the 34 rue de Lyon lift out of service and the Hector-Malot lift in service. That distinction changes the starting point for anyone avoiding stairs.