#09 South Petite Ceinture

About the South Petite Ceinture Tour

The Petite Ceinture (the PC) is a former circular railway inside Paris, built in the mid-19th century. It aimed at connecting the 5 independently owned train stations of Paris and transported people until the 1930s when it was abandoned in favor of the metro and bus lines. It remained for freight purposes until the end of the 1980s when it was completely decommissioned.

Location

The southern section of this derelict railway goes through the edges of the current 14th and 15th arrondissements of Paris. By the time it was built, the surroundings were either industrial sites or residential districts for the working class outside Paris. Nowadays, they are fairly bourgeois and family-focused, quite removed from the bustle of the center of the city.

Redevelopment as a pedestrian walkway

The two sections, in the 14th and the 15th arrondissement, were publicly reopened as wild walkway at different times. They offer two distinct points of view on the city: one is below ground level and feels like a forest path, the other is above ground level and gives a great panorama of the architecture of Paris. This option can be compared with the other option chosen by the city for the redevelopment of the #14 North Petite Ceinture.

The South Petite Ceinture Tour

On this tour, we’ll see the city from an unusual angle, in a very relaxing and “nature in the city” atmosphere.

On the 3-hour version, in addition to the walk on the former rail tracks, we’ll see an example of former train station turned into a cultural venue, cross through one of the first eco-district of the city and enjoy a short stroll in a lovely park, rather unknown from the tourists.

On the 4-hour version of the tour we’ll also be able to wander around a stunning university campus and admire fancy residential alleys around.