#06 The Marne River, a Gorgeous Getaway Just Outside Paris

About the Marne River Tour

From a traveler perspective, The Marne is a lesser-known river than the Seine which flows across Paris by some of the mots famous landmarks in the world.

Nonetheless, this river has a special place in the memory of the families settled on its banks, part of the prosperous eastern suburbs like Nogent-sur-Marne, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés or Joinville-le-Pont to name a few.

Once a Vacation Resort For Parisians

For decades, this was indeed the theater of popular festivities for the bourgeoisie during weekends, in an era where privates cars hadn’t been invented yet and the train network was not as dense and efficient. And that, just a stone’s throw from Paris.

In sunny days, everyone would enjoy dives and baths in the river—reopened in 2025!—or other water sports like rowing or canoeing.

In the same time, for lovers, dancers or simply wine amateurs, the Marne river banks and islands were lined with a multitude of open-air cabarets—les Guinguettes—originally invented in Belleville and named after a cheap local wine.

Loads of popular singers were inspired by these venues. Among them, we can cite Edith Piaf or Charles Trénet, but the one song that stood the test of time is probably “Ah! le petit vin blanc” invented at the liberation of Paris during Word War II…

A Post-war Societal Shift

In the 1950s, big changes in the society occurred and resulted in the progressive end of the golden era of this paradise for Parisians.

Due to the generalization of the paid vacations—les congés payés—the democratization of the individual car, and the storm provoked by the Rock’n’Roll phenomena—les Yé-Yé in France—the guinguettes finally became has-been in the eyes of the new generations.

Only a couple of them have survived, but the Marne river banks, they are well and truly alive, with their natural feel, typical bourgeois houses and a plethora of water activities and sports.

The Marne River Tour

On this walking tour, we’ll feel like in the countryside wandering on a residential island, paradise of green and water; we’ll admire some of the most beautiful typical mansions; we’ll try to revive the glorious days of one of the last remaining guinguette; and end in the city that was once the center of the festivities.

Tour Options

The tour can be extended by a 1-hour seated meal in a typical restaurant or, on warm days, by a picnic by the Marne river.

In summer only, there’s also a possibility to combine the walk with a boat ride on the Marne river.