La Petite Ceinture, Paris' Abandoned Railway, Is The Perfect Way To Get Off The Beaten Path

Get Off Paris' Beaten Path

Want to take a walk off the beaten Paris path? If so, a stroll along La Petite Ceinture is definitely for you.

A railway that once circled the City of Light, La Petite Ceinture (called "The Little Belt" in English) ran along Boulevards des Maréchaux, but stopped running in 1934.

Since then, the abandoned tracks have morphed into a garden with an unusual amount of biodiversity. The Little Belt now boasts more than 200 species of plants and at least 70 different animal species. It's a little bit of Narnia surrounded by the city.

In 2008, a portion of the tracks between the Porte d'Auteuil and the Gare de Passy-la-Muette was opened to the public. The rest, accessible from nine arrondissements, is currently off limits, though urban explorers have been known to test the boundaries.

Check out photos of La Petite Ceinture below!

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