27.6.13

New space for walking along the Seine


In September last year I made a post about a walk along the right bank of the Seine. I referred to the fact that a large part of the Seine banks around 1967 had been transformed to expressways, but that great efforts recently have been made to give them back to pedestrians. This is now also, since a couple of days, the case with a large part of the left bank  – of course under protest from some car owners (which I am not).

This is the part of the left bank, which is concerned, westwards from the Orsay Museum to the Pont’d’Alma. (Most of the left bank east of the Orsay Museum was never opened to car traffic.)

I visited the new installations the day of the “Fête de la Musique” in the afternoon and especially in the evening when the weather was – reasonably - good. This may give you a quite positive feeling, but to really see how successful all this is, I guess you must wait until the autumn and days when no special events take place; the “looks” are not quite like the more traditional Seine-River-Bank ones … But let’s be positive and optimistic!

First some general views.




Some green space has been created...


  … some areas of rest…


… a number of places for eating and drinking…


… a number of installations for sports and other activities…








You will always have the pleasure to watch the traffic on the Seine…



… and have a look under the bridges…



As I said, the day I went was when the “Fête de la musique” took place. In the afternoon you could listen to some book reading (some of you may recognize Jean-Michel Ribes), some music…. and in the evening more music. 


    

18 comments:

Gunn said...

Wow, what an interesting and nice posting you have put together!!

GOD SOMMER!

Starman said...

I wonder what the houseboat dwellers think of all the new people passing their homes??

Olivier said...

superbe post, je trouve que c'est vraiment une superbe idee de faire des voies sur berges un lieu de promenade et d'amusement
La fete de la musiques avec ribes cela devait etre vraiment sympa

Kate said...

How wonderful that the city has been doing so much for its citizens and those visitors who love the City of Light. Absolutely spectacular!! You are also wonderful to take all those photos for our viewing pleasure.

Anonymous said...

thanks for this very cool post - I want to go there now!!

Amanda said...

That is wonderful! Great post! Thank you Peter!

martinealison said...

Bonjour Peter,

C'est toujours un grand bonheur que de visiter Paris avec toi.
Du nouveau depuis ma dernière balade à Paris avec cet aménagement.
Cela doit être très agréable...

A lyon, des travaux titanesques sont en cours pour aménager les rives de la Saône. (22 km de rives)
Une promenade continue sera crée en implantant des oeuvres d'art pour donner une identité créative et culturelle aux parcours.
Le milieu naturel du val de Saône sera préservé.
Je pense que cela sera une réussite à la facture très élevée!!

Merci pour tes merveilleuses photos... Elles sont riches de vie...
Gros bisous

Jilly said...

What a fabulous post and set of photographs. How beautiful it all is.

Pierre BOYER said...

Il faut que je découvre ça par moi-même...
:-)

Pierre

claude said...

Ce n'est pas une mauvaise idée mais est-ce seulement pour l'été ou sera-ce permanent ?
Je sais aussi que cela perturbe la circulation dans Paris.

Vagabonde said...

This is wonderful – I’ll be sure to go there to walk next time. Thanks Peter to let us know this and for all your great photos.

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Hi Peter , I will have to take a look , :-) I am in Paris for a few days next week :-) thanks for sharing this, it is a great post,

Jeanie said...

Peter, this looks really delightful and yet another fun walk (or two or three) to add to my next trip. Your post is terrific -- lots of work went into this one and it shows! Great photos and what a wonderful time to be there! Cheers!

JoeinVegas said...

Much nicer for people than cars. I like the hammocks. Should tear up more concrete and put in more green.

JPD said...

Paris is more and more becoming like a huge Disneyland designed for tourists, youngsters, and retired people.
But who gives a damn about working people ?
Because while the lower left bank is nowadays a playground, the upper left bank has become a permanent traffic-jam.
But perhaps I am too stupid to understand that creating congestion improves ecology...

Cezar and Léia said...

Ah, it seems that the river bank has been put to very good use now! Would love to visit Paris again and share a coupe! :)
God bless you!
Cezar

Anonymous said...

How can the city authorities allow

that part of Paris (of all places)

to look like a fiesta patronal?

It makes me sad and upset.

Your photography of course, as

usual...masterly!

Maria O. Russell

Chris said...

Some amazing photos, merci!

Walking by the Seine on either the Left or Right Bank is a sensational experience, it is important to take it slowly and absorb all the amazing sights, not just the famous ones but everything which makes Paris so special.

Our own website has a long way to go to emulate yours but we are slowly making a start:

http://citybreaks.amoretravel.co.uk/paris/