A Hidden Urban Escape: The Charm of Promenade Pereire
Located along the bustling boulevard Pereire in the 17th arrondissement, Promenade Pereire is a tranquil and lesser-known greenway that winds through urban landscapes with blooming flowers, lush pergolas, and artistic sculptures.
This one-kilometer promenade stretches from Porte Maillot to Place du Maréchal-Juin, embracing the path of the historic Petite Ceinture railway. The promenade’s mix of natural beauty, recreational spaces, and bronze sculptures creates an inviting retreat where locals and travelers can pause, relax, and reconnect with nature in the heart of Paris.
From Rail to Roses: A Unique Transformation
Constructed in 1989 to cover the former Ligne d’Auteuil railway, the promenade reclaims a piece of Paris’s industrial past, transforming it into a lively green space.
The park is dedicated to the Pereire brothers, Émile and Isaac, 19th-century financiers and railway pioneers, who played a major role in the urban development of Paris’s western districts. Today, a commemorative plaque at Place du Maréchal-Juin honors their contribution, setting the tone for this historical yet peaceful journey.
Botanical Beauty: A Floral Display All Year Round
Promenade Pereire dazzles with carefully curated floral arrangements. Spring and summer reveal the famous Ronsard roses, with their delicate pink and white hues, and the allure of heather, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias.
These flowers, alongside wisteria, clematis, and honeysuckle climbing the pergolas, create vibrant displays that last from spring to late summer.
Adding further elegance, over 200 willow-leafed pear trees and distinctive Judas trees line the route, each section offering a new botanical theme.
An Artist’s Touch: Sculptures by Boris Lejeune
Boris Lejeune’s bronze sculptures, crafted between 1988 and 1990, lend a unique artistic touch to the promenade. Each sculpture captures a familiar scene from nature: Les Vignes (The Vines), Les Champs (The Fields), La Rivière (The River), Les Arbres (The Trees), and La Mer (The Sea).
These art pieces appear in different sections of the promenade, blending seamlessly into the natural surroundings and inviting strollers to contemplate Paris’s layered relationship with art, history, and the environment.
A Haven for Leisure and Play
Promenade Pereire offers a variety of recreational options for all ages. Families can enjoy playgrounds featuring swings, slides, climbing structures, and even a mini train station with a charming red train.
Several sections, especially near Rue Bayen and Rue Rennequin, provide open spaces and shaded areas perfect for reading, picnicking, or resting on the numerous benches.
Active visitors can challenge each other to ping-pong matches, while children enjoy the slides and climbing structures scattered along the path.