Coulée verte René-Dumont

File:Coulée Verte René-Dumont @ Paris (28980190410).jpg

File:P1220322 Paris XII promenade plantee mobilier rwk.jpg

This {{lang|fr|Promenade plantée}} in Paris is an extensive green belt that follows the old {{lang|fr|Vincennes|italic=no}} railway line. Beginning just east of the {{lang|fr|Opéra Bastille|italic=no}} with the elevated {{lang|fr|Viaduc des Arts|italic=no}}, it follows a {{convert|4.7|km|adj=on}} path eastward that ends at a spiral staircase leading to the {{lang|fr|boulevard Périphérique|italic=no}} beltway. At its west end near the Bastille, the parkway rises {{convert|10|m}} above the surrounding area and forms the {{lang|fr|Viaduc des Arts|italic=no}}, over a line of shops featuring the work of specialized craftsmen. The shops are located in the arches of the former elevated railway viaduct, with the parkway being supported atop the viaduct. This portion of the parkway runs parallel to the {{lang|fr|avenue Daumesnil|italic=no}}. The parkway crosses the {{lang|fr|Jardin de Reuilly|italic=no}} near the {{lang|fr|rue Montgallet|italic=no}} and descends to street level. At that point, it becomes a grassy mall and then follows the old railway direction below street level towards the east, passing through several tunnels. As it reaches the {{lang|fr|rue du Sahel|italic=no}}, it splits, with one portion continuing to the beltway, and the other terminating in the {{lang|fr|square Charles-Péguy|italic=no}} along the former path of a branch line that once linked to the {{lang|fr|Petite Ceinture|italic=no}} railway.

File:Coulée Verte René-Dumont @ Paris (29268197565).jpg

File:Vue prise de la rue Montgallet de l’escalier qui donne accès au Jardin de Reuilly.jpg

The elevated part of the route, on the viaduct, has some enclosed sections, as when it passes between modern buildings, and some open sections with expansive views. In addition to the {{lang|fr|Jardin de Reuilly|italic=no}} and the square {{lang|fr|Charles-Péguy|italic=no}}, the {{lang|fr|Promenade plantée}} also includes the {{lang|fr|Jardin de la gare de Reuilly|italic=no}}, with its preserved but repurposed railway station, and the {{lang|fr|square Hector-Malot|italic=no}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=Coulée verte René-Dumont (ex Promenade Plantée) |url=https://www.paris.fr/equipements/coulee-verte-rene-dumont-ex-promenade-plantee-1772 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706163440/https://www.paris.fr/equipements/coulee-verte-rene-dumont-ex-promenade-plantee-1772 |archive-date=2018-07-06 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |publisher=City of Paris }} The western portion of the parkway may be accessed via stairways and elevators leading up to the elevated viaduct. This portion is reserved for pedestrians. The eastern portion of the parkway is accessible via ramps and stairways and is open to both pedestrians and cyclists. The west end can be reached from Bastille by walking {{convert|300|m}} south on {{lang|fr|rue de Lyon|italic=no}}, then left on {{lang|fr|avenue Daumesnil|italic=no}}. The staircase entrance is immediately on the left where {{lang|fr|avenue Daumesnil|italic=no}} enters {{lang|fr|rue de Lyon|italic=no}}.

File:INCONNU 83 - PARIS - La Gare de Vincennes (détail).jpg

This Promenade Plantée is built on the former tracks of the Vincennes railway line, which, beginning in 1859, linked the Gare de la Bastille train station to Verneuil-l'Étang, after passing through Vincennes.{{Cite web|last=Association Sauvegarde de la Petite Ceinture|date=December 9, 2003|title=La Coulée verte (ou promenade plantée) de la Bastille n'utilise-t'elle pas une partie de la petite ceinture ferroviaire?|url=https://archives.petiteceinture.org/La-coulee-verte-ou-promenade-199.html#gsc.tab=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303233705/https://archives.petiteceinture.org/La-coulee-verte-ou-promenade-199.html |archive-date=2021-03-03 |access-date=|website=}} It ceased operation on December 14, 1969; part of the line beyond Vincennes was integrated into Line A of the RER, while the Paris-Vincennes section was completely abandoned.

File:Train sur viaduc de la lignes de Vincennes Paris 12 19eme siecle.jpg

Beginning in the 1980s, the area was renovated. In 1984, the Bastille station was demolished to make way for the Opéra Bastille. The Reuilly section was designed in 1986; it incorporates the old commercial rail depot of Reuilly into a group of park areas. The Promenade Plantée was put into place at the same time in order to reuse the rest of the abandoned line between the Bastille and the old Montempoivre gate to the city. Landscape architect Jacques Vergely and architect Philippe Mathieux designed the parkway, which was inaugurated in 1993.{{Cite web|last=Mathieux|first=Phillippe|date=7 April 2019|title=La Coulée verte|url=https://www.philippemathieux.com/promenade-plantee-paris-coulee-verte-rene-dumont|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811120505/https://www.philippemathieux.com/promenade-plantee-paris-coulee-verte-rene-dumont |archive-date=2020-08-11 |access-date=|website=Philippe Mathieux, Architecte}} The arcades of the Viaduc des Arts were renovated in 1989 by architect Patrick Berger,{{cite web |url=http://www.patrickberger.fr/projets/150_viaduc/viaduc_03.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212080814/http://www.patrickberger.fr/projets/150_viaduc/viaduc_03.html |archive-date=2007-12-12 |title=Patrick Berger Architecte}} as was the new square Charles-Péguy.{{cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/cases/paris/index.shtml | title=Viaduc des Arts and Promenade Plantée: A Paris match? | work=Boston.com | date=12 March 2002 | access-date=24 October 2014 | author=Campbell, Robert}}

Paris' promenade was the first project in the world to repurpose elevated old railway lines into urban gardens. Other repurposing projects have now been completed or are underway. The first phase of the High Line, a similar park on an old railway viaduct in the West Side of Manhattan in New York City, was completed in 2009.{{cite news | url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/first-phase-of-high-line-is-ready-for-strolling/ | title=First Phase of High Line Is Ready for Strolling | work=The New York Times | date=June 8, 2009 | access-date=July 8, 2009 | last=Pogrebin | first=Robin | author-link=Robin Pogrebin}} The second phase was completed in 2011, bringing the total length of the High Line to 1.6 kilometres (1 mi);{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/06/07/2011-06-07_hotly_anticipated_second_section_of_the_high_line_opens_adding_10_blocks_of_elev.html | title=Hotly anticipated second section of the High Line opens, adding 10 blocks of elevated park space | work=Daily News | date=June 7, 2011 | access-date=June 7, 2011 | last=Pesce | first=Nicole Lyn}} the third phase opened in September 2014, completing the park.{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/arts/design/the-high-line-opens-its-third-and-final-phase.html|title=Third and Final Phase Opens|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 20, 2014|access-date=September 20, 2014}} In 2015 Chicago opened the nearly {{convert|4.8|km|adj=on}} Bloomingdale Trail, which runs through several city neighborhoods and allows bicycles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/BloomingdaleTrail_INFO_2011.pdf|access-date=2011-06-08|date=May 2011|title=Bloomingdale Trail: History, background and frequently asked questions}}

The Promenade Plantée appears in the film Before Sunset, directed by Richard Linklater in 2004 with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619235240/http://thehighline.org/news/2004/08/12/paris-elevated-rail-park-featured-in-movie-before-sunset|url=http://www.thehighline.org/news/2004/08/12/paris-elevated-rail-park-featured-in-movie-before-sunset | title=Paris Elevated Rail Park Featured in Movie 'Before Sunset' | work=Friends of the High Line | date=August 12, 2004 | access-date=July 27, 2014|archive-date=June 19, 2010 |url-status=dead}} It is also mentioned in the science fiction novel Olympos, by Dan Simmons.

File:Coulée verte René-Dumont, 139 Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris, France 2016.jpg|View from the Coulée verte onto Avenue Daumesnil

File:Paris - Coulée verte René-Dumont12.jpg|A reflecting pool on the Coulée verte

File:Promenade plantée, Paris August 2009 (13).jpg|Access stairway at rue Montgallet

File:Promenade plantée, Paris August 2009 (12).jpg|Part of the Jardin de Reuilly, as seen from a pedestrian bridge on the Coulée verte

File:Paris - Coulee verte2.jpg|A view of the eastern section of the Coulée verte

File:Coulée Verte René-Dumont @ Paris (28647410603).jpg|One of the Coulée verte's pedestrian bridges

File:Jardin de Reuilly Entrance on Avenue Daumesnil 1.jpg|Entrance to the Jardin de Reuilly on Avenue Daumesnil

File:Artificial rocks in one of the Coulee vert’s tunnels.jpg|Artificial rocks in one of the Coulée verte’s tunnels

• List of parks and gardens in Paris
• Rotterdam Hofplein railway station, similar former railway in Rotterdam
• High Line, elevated park in Manhattan, New York City
• Bloomingdale Trail, similar elevated park in Chicago
• Lowline, planned underground park in Manhattan, New York City
• Harsimus Stem Embankment, planned rail trail in Jersey City, New Jersey
• Maidashi ryokuchi, a park in Fukuoka, Japan
• Queensway, planned rail trail in Queens, New York City
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)
• Reading Viaduct, planned rail trail in Philadelphia
• Greenway, London
• The Atlanta Beltline, Atlanta, Georgia

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{{Commons category|Coulée_verte_René-Dumont}}

{{Wikivoyage|Paris/12th arrondissement|Promenade Plantée|a travel-guide entry}}

• [http://www.promenade-plantee.org/ Promenade Plantée's unofficial website]
• [https://archive.today/20130117134635/http://www.atkielski.com/inlink.php?/PhotoGallery/Paris/General/ViaducDesArtsSmall.html Viaduc des Arts]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080908044016/http://www.atelierletallec.com/ Atelier Le Tallec website]}}
• [https://archive.today/20130117085721/http://www.atkielski.com/PhotoGallery/Paris/General/JardinReuillyLarge.html Jardin de Reuilly, a park crossed by the Promenade Plantée]

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Category:12th arrondissement of Paris

Category:Linear parks

Category:Parks and open spaces in Paris

Category:Rail trails

Category:Hiking trails in France

Category:Buildings and structures in the 12th arrondissement of Paris

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