Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
PETITE CEINTURE
Long before the tramway or even the metro, the 35km Petite Ceinture (Little Belt)
steam railway encircled the city of Paris. Constructed during the reign of Napoleon III
between 1852 and 1869 as a way to move troops and goods around the city's fortifica-
tions, it became a thriving passenger service until the metro arrived in 1900. Most
passenger services ceased in 1934 and goods services in 1993, and the line became
an overgrown wilderness. Until recently, access was forbidden (although that didn't
stop maverick urban explorers scrambling along its tracks and tunnels). Of the line's
original 29 stations, 17 survive (in various states of disrepair).
Plans for regenerating the Petite Ceinture railway corridor have progressed with the
recent opening of three sections with walkways alongside the tracks. Other areas re-
main off limits.
www.paris.fr
;
btwn rue Olivier de Serres & rue St-Charles, 15e; 9am-8.30pm May-Aug, to 7.30pm Apr &
Sep, to 6pm Mar, reduced hrs Nov-Feb; Balard or Porte de Versailles)
stretches for 1.3km, with
biodiverse habitats including forest, grassland and prairies supporting 220 species of
flora and fauna. In addition to the end points, there are three lift/elevator-enabled ac-
cess points along its route: 397ter rue de Vaugirard; opposite 82 rue Desnouettes; and
place Robert Guillemard. Ultimately the goal is to open the entire section of track
between parcs Georges-Brassens and André-Citroën, around 3km in all.
Sections in eastern Paris, Petiite C
e Ceiintuure du 12e (P
e du 12e (PC 12)
C 12), near the Bois de
Vincennes, and western Paris, Petiite C
e Ceiintuure du 1
e du 16e (P
6e (PC 1
C 166), near the Bois de
Boulogne are also open to the public.
