Overview
The Promenade Plantée — officially the Coulée Verte René-Dumont — is one of the most innovative urban parks in the world: a linear garden built on the elevated railway viaduct of the former Vincennes line, which carried passengers until 1969. Opened in 1993, it was the first elevated park of its kind anywhere in the world and directly inspired New York's famous High Line. The promenade runs for 4.7 kilometres from Avenue Daumesnil near the Opéra Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes, passing through tunnels, over bridges, and above the rooftops of the 12th arrondissement. Below the starting section of the viaduct, the Viaduc des Arts houses a continuous arcade of high-end artisans' workshops and galleries.
🕐 Opening Hours
Hours vary by section; weekends open 30 minutes earlier
Free admission unless noted above
🚇 How to Get There
💡 Start at the Bastille end (Avenue Daumesnil, near the Opéra Bastille) and walk east — the views get better as you go.
Get Directions →What to See
- 1Elevated walkway — a continuous garden 'bridge' above the city, with rose gardens, bamboo groves, and lavender beds
- 2Viaduc des Arts — 50+ artisans' ateliers and galleries in the arches below the viaduct, from violin-makers to interior designers
- 3Tunnels and bridges — the route passes through three tunnels and over several street-level bridges
- 4Views over eastern Paris — unique vantage points above the rooftops of the 12th arrondissement
- 5Rose gardens — particularly spectacular in late May and early June
- 6Bamboo grove and water gardens — surprising botanical diversity for an elevated rail line
Photos
Promenade Plantée elevated garden walkway above Avenue Daumesnil in the 12th arrondissement
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