Viaduc des Arts: Designer Workshops and Promenade in Paris

The Viaduc des Arts is a former railway viaduct built in the mid-19th century for the Paris–La Varenne line. The line was closed in 1969, but the city decided to preserve this unique structure. In 1994 it was fully restored: above, where the tracks once lay, came the Promenade Plantée, a green linear park; below, under the arches, opened artisan workshops, designer boutiques, cafés and restaurants.

It was the first park in the world created on the site of an abandoned railway, and it inspired New York’s famous High Line. Today the Viaduc des Arts is part of the almost six-kilometre Coulée Verte René-Dumont, stretching from Bastille Square to the Bois de Vincennes. Walking along the park above, you can spot architectural details hidden from street level and enjoy roses, poppies and climbing plants in bloom.

The real fascination lies under the arches, where designers and artisans have set up their studios. By rule, they must carry out most of their work on site, turning the Viaduc des Arts into an open workshop of Paris. Through the glass fronts you can watch jewellery, furniture, accessories and decorative objects being created before your eyes.

Among the residents are names of true renown. Israeli designer Tzuri Gueta creates jewellery and art objects in “silicone lace,” long part of the Parisian haute couture scene. Leatherworker Serge Amoruso, a former Hermès craftsman, makes rare and costly pieces by hand — from wallets to travel bags in exotic leathers. At Cécile et Jeanne you can watch colourful jewellery take shape and find an original handbag. In the lighting studio Mydriaz, brass, glass and ceramics become unique lamps and sculptural installations. Jeweller Philippe Ferrandis, known for his work with Balmain, Nina Ricci and Swarovski, designs expressive creations in his atelier. And at the perfume boutique of Jean-Charles Brosseau, you can discover the legendary Ombre Rose and the house’s new fragrances.

The Viaduc des Arts has become part of the Paris landscape — as an architectural landmark, a leafy park above the city, and a place where craftsmanship thrives. Walking along its arches from Bastille eastwards, you’ll discover another Paris: a city of traditional artisans, contemporary designers, chefs, confectioners and perfumers.

Viaduc des Arts - https://www.leviaducdesarts.com