When walking along Rue Daumesnil and past its buildings, it’s hard to imagine that trains ran here for over a century. In place of the René Dumont Green Corridor, however, a railroad line was indeed in service between 1859 and 1969, connecting the Bastille to Vincennes. Today, this promenade—much loved by locals—has even inspired New York’s High Line!
A former railroad line transformed into a green promenade
The story begins in September 1859, when Napoleon III inaugurated the Bastille station. Carrying passengers between Paris, Vincennes, and a few towns further east, the line quickly became a major transportation route, particularly for workers living outside the capital.
This section of track remained in use for over a century, until its closure in 1969, when the RER A line was inaugurated. Its former suburban route was reused for this new regional train, while the Parisian section was decommissioned. The remains of the entire structure are still visible today: it is indeed the spectacular Viaduc des Arts that once carried the tracks of the “Vincennes Line.”
As for the Bastille train station, it remained in use until 1984 before being demolished to make way for the Opéra Bastille we know today. At that time, just a few hundred meters away, nature began reclaiming the old railroad tracks. Starting in 1988, Philippe Mathieux and Jacques Vergely—an architect and a landscape architect, respectively—were commissioned to rehabilitate the entire site.
Thus was born the Coulée Verte René Dumont, which follows the terrain left behind by the railroad. The viaduct has been landscaped, and the walking path runs along it before descending into its trenches. Throughout this 4.5-kilometer stroll, visitors can enjoy the small gardens and amenities that have been installed along the route.
And here’s a fun fact: it was this very Coulée Verte that inspired some New York designers behind Manhattan’s High Line. Before designing their own green promenade in the Chelsea neighborhood, the architects behind the project actually traveled to the 12th arrondissement for inspiration!
📍Coulée Verte – René Dumont, 75012 Paris