At Time Out Paris, we like little streets decorated with trees and plants, hidden squares, towering churches and mysterious corners. These leafy spots are nourishing for body and mind, so we’ve dissected the city for you to (re)discover some of these bucolic walks in Paris. Your next great escape isn't as far as you think...
While Rue Oberkampf is more known for its nocturnal life, it also hides numerous of these little 'cités'. These cobbled passages house communication agences and artists' studios, and what beautiful scenes they are.
Cité du Figuier, with its eponymous fig trees is a floral wonderland, complete with garden tables. But be careful while you wander, this is still a working area!
La Cité du Figuer
104-106 rue Oberkampf, 11th
Hidden in a corner of place de la Bastille, la cour Damoye itself hides a little cobbled street, sheltered away from cars, boutiques and bars.
The privative road comes out onto rue Deval. At the time of its creation, (1790-1890), the courtyard housed artists’ workshops. Nowadays they are communication agencies, galleries and chic small houses.
Passage open to pedestrians during the week from 9am-8pm, Saturdays 10am-8pm, and Sundays and bank holidays from 1pm-7pm.
Paris's answer to New York's High Line is the Coulée verte - a 4.7km green pathway that overlooks the 12th arrondissement.
Opened in 1993 on a former railway line, the Coulée verte or promenade plantée offers a beautiful contrast between the natural vegetation and modern buildings of the neighbourhood. The walkway begins at Bastille opera house and runs along avenue Daumesnil up to Jardin de Reuilly and Bois de Vincennes.
Cuddle amongst the rosebushes, walk along the ponds and admire the most spectactular buildings of the 12th. Keep an eye out for the Art Deco police station on your way.
Mon-Fri, 8am (Sat-Sun, 9am) to 5.30pm (during winter) or 9.30pm (during summer).
Coulée verte René Dumont
1 Coulée verte René-Dumont, 12th
Not far from the charming Butte-aux-Cailles, Vila Daviel is a dead-end road with Victorian allure. Here there's no street art in sight, this street is kept impeccable with houses that have both terraces and flowered gardens (yes, really) - each as beautiful as the next.
You wouldn't know it was here, but however it remains one of Paris's most shining treasures.
With the houses painted like a rainbow, rue Crémieux is Paris’s own Portobello…However it's not far from Gare de Lyon and a welcome breath of fresh air in this busy area. Christened Avenue Millaud on its creation in 1865, the street was later re-named in tribute to French lawyer and writer Gaston Crémieux.
With 35 two-floored glowingly colourful houses, this cobbled street is a miniture Haussmannien countryside. Pink, green, violette - all the colours of marcarons! Be sure to have a look at Number 8, where to this day you can see how high the water reached during the 1910 flood – 75metres!
Transport yourself to Notting Hill via this charming little area in the 13th. Not far from parc Montsouris, you'll find this green triangle nestled in amongst the modern buildings. These pedestrian streets and flower-covered Victorian houses offer an idyllic escape. Just be mindful to respect the serenity!
If you're strolling in the 14th be sure to search out the charming cobbled streets of Montsouris square. Found in Montsouris park itself, the road is on a small slope and filled with leaf-covered houses.
Built during the Post-War period in a new arty style, the houses are renowned for having welcomed famous painters (Roger Bissière, Nicolas Wacker and Tsugouhara Foujita). This street is a green injection for the capital, and is more intimate than the neighbouring park, giving off a very soothing and tranquil vibe.
Almost 300m long, this typically Parisian cobbled street is boarded by large four-storey houses that are beautifully decorated with flowers and greenery throughout spring and summer. It was named back in 1937 as a tribute to the battle of Thermopyles.
Found in a quiet corner of the 14th arrondissement, it’s the perfect place for tranquillity, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Built 150 years ago, la petite ceinture is an abandoned railway that spans 32km! It traverses the 18th, 15th and 16th arrondissements, but it's most famous section enters into the famous coulée verte in 12th.
A particularly beautiful part, where you can walk 1.5km, stretches from parc André Citroën until parc Georges Brassens. On these forgotten tracks you'll find over 200 different types of plants, as well as several species of butterfly. Pretty wonderful isn't it?
Opening during the week: 9am
Sat, Sun, bank holidays: 9.30am
Closure:
From October 1 to winter hours: 6.30pm
Winter hours to end of Feb: 4.45pm
From March 1 to summer hours: 6pm
Summer hours to April 30: 7.30pm
From May 1 to August 31: 8.30pm
From September 1 to 30: 7.30pm
Sideline the madness in between avenue de Clichy and Saint-Ouen by making a turn into Cour Saint-Pierre.
Housing advertising and PR agencies, artists' studios and lucky people's houses, this little courtyard is a lovely green discovery.
A quaint little street that is prohibited for vehicles, where you can bask in the sunlight amongst the birds and flowers.
During the Second World War, one of the buildings on the street housed a Resistance movement that was uncovered by the Gestapo on May 18, 1944 - a plaque commemorates the victims and deportees.
In the heart of the 18 arrondissement and at the foothill of Montmartre, Villa Léandre is like no other street in the area. Named in 1936, in honour of the caricaturist Charles Léandre, it's very calm and discreet, made up of little houses and paved with cobbles.
With an almost London feel to it, Villa Léandre offers an intriguing opportunity for a real escape in the heart of Paris. A spot for poetry and greenness, historic walls and pastel colours, it’s a great spot to walk and just chill. A ‘Paris away from Paris’.
A 30km cycle path starting at the at La Villette basin (Jaurès metro) spanning the Canal de l’Ourcq until the town Claye-Souilly, in Seine-et-Marne. The journey offers a gorgeous transition from urban city to woodland. You'll pass by joggers, fishers, children bathing and even swans with their cygnets.
Discover the cycle route
Not many know of this part of the 20th arrondissement, which is one of the oldest and most bucolic areas, with its ancient facades, historic street lights and Parisian cobbles.
Start by the place des Grès, cross onto rue Vitruve and climb up to the church Saint-Germain de Charonne to take in the beautiful view.
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