The High Line of Paris: Bastille to Bercy, a Self-Guided Paris Walk
2h. 2.8 miles. From Opéra Bastille to Parc de Bercy.
Paris invented the elevated park before New York did. This walk runs along the Coulee Verte, a garden built on an old railway viaduct high above the streets, then drops into the craftsman arcades below and ends in the vineyards and gardens of Bercy. Green, quiet, and almost entirely tourist-free.
The local move
Do the whole thing at rooftop level first, then come back down. From up on the viaduct you look straight into the first-floor windows of the apartments, over rose gardens and bamboo, with the traffic far below. It's the calmest walk in the city.
Best time to go
Morning or late afternoon, spring through autumn when the planting is at its best.
When to avoid it
Winter strips the greenery; it's a walk for leafy months.
The stops
Opéra Bastille
The modern glass opera house on the historic square where the Bastille prison once stood.
Tip: Start on the square by the July Column, then find the stairs up to the Coulee Verte behind the opera on avenue Daumesnil.
Coulée verte René-Dumont
A 4.5 km linear garden built on a disused 19th-century railway viaduct, planted with roses, lavender and climbing vines.
Tip: Stay up on the viaduct as long as you can. The stretch above avenue Daumesnil, level with the rooftops, is the magic part.
Viaduc des Arts
The brick arches beneath the old railway, now a run of craftsmen's workshops: cabinetmakers, gilders, luthiers.
Tip: Come back down to street level here to see the artisans at work behind the glass arches. A quiet, beautiful stretch.
Jardin de Reuilly
A wide sunny lawn crossed by a suspended footbridge, a favorite local picnic spot the path runs straight through.
Tip: The bridge over the lawn is a lovely pause. Locals sunbathe here on weekends; grab a bench.
Parc de Bercy
A large modern park on the site of the old wine warehouses, with vineyards, a rose garden and old rail tracks left in the grass.
Tip: Wander the themed gardens. The old cobbles and rails are a nod to the wine trade that once filled this quarter.
Bercy Village
The former wine storehouses (chais) turned into a cobbled lane of shops and cafes.
Tip: A relaxed finish with terraces in the old stone warehouses. Good for a drink before the metro at Cour Saint-Emilion.
Ways to change it up
With kids
The Jardin de Reuilly lawn and the Bercy park playgrounds; the elevated path is stroller-friendly.
If it rains
Weaker in the wet; the Viaduc des Arts arcades and Bercy Village give some shelter.
Short on time
The viaduct from Bastille to the Jardin de Reuilly, then metro back, about an hour.
About these walks
This is one of the free self-guided Paris walks written by the Chic Trip team, locals who plan and book full Paris trips for American travelers. Get our free insider Paris guide at chic-trip.com/free-paris-guide, or have us plan your whole trip at chic-trip.com/paris-travel-planner.
