La Petite Ceinture

La Petite Ceinture, or Little Belt, was the brainchild of Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann, a 19th-century railway circumnavigating Paris and taking passengers and cargo around the capital city. With the arrival of the metro in 1900 and its overwhelming success, the tracks and stations were abandoned. But today, in certain spots, you can walk along the railroad tracks and enjoy a peaceful stroll. One such spot is in the 15th Arrondissement where you can walk from Place Balard, high above the surrounding streets, past the former station Vaugirard, and saunter on as far as the Parc George Brassens.