The Gr 75: 5 Things To Know About The Paris Walking Tour
Did you know that the City of Paris has had its own long-distance hiking trail since June 2017? This route, called the GR 75, allows you to explore the green belt of the capital, from the Géode to the Palais des Congrès, passing through the National Library of France, the Parc des Princes, and the Bois de Boulogne. Here are 5 things to know about this 100% Parisian hiking trail.
It was created with a view to the 2024 Olympics.
As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach, the City of Paris is preparing to become the global capital of sports. In this perspective, it has created its own long-distance hiking trail: the GR 75!
This trail is also called the GR 2024 as it was created as part of Paris' bid for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Through this itinerary, the organizers of the Olympics wanted to promote walking, which is the most easily accessible physical activity for the general public.
2- He wears the famous white and red marking.
Although it is located in an urban environment, the GR 75 is marked like all other long-distance hiking trails in France. It adheres to the rule and has a marking consisting of two horizontal white and red lines.
Starting from La Géode in Parc de la Villette, all you have to do is follow the famous white and red markers to find your way. Walking around Paris has never been easier!
3- It forms a loop of 50 km.
The GR 75 forms a loop of 50 km that follows the green belt of the capital and crosses the 9 peripheral districts of Paris. This route, which runs along the ring road, the boulevards (i.e. the city's former fortifications) and the inner railway belt, can be done in both directions.
Only the most experienced hikers can complete it in one go. But rest assured: this GR is composed of 13 sections of 4 km connecting Paris metro stations! So it is very easy to only follow a part of it and return by metro.
This trail is accessible to everyone, especially since it is completely flat. There is no need to wear hiking shoes to walk it: good sneakers are enough!
The GR 2024 also allows you to connect to other long-distance hiking trails that cross Paris: GR 1, GR 2, GR 22, GR 14, GR 14A, and GR 655.
4- It allows you to discover different neighborhoods and monuments.
Contrary to what one might fear, this Parisian hiking trail does not exclusively pass through urban landscapes.
On the contrary, it goes through no less than 70 green spaces, including:
• Parc de la Villette
• Parc de Bercy
• Parc Kellermann
• Parc André Citroën
• Parc Martin Luther King
• Bois de Vincennes
• Bois de Boulogne
• Linear forest of the 20th arrondissement.
The GR 75 allows you to enjoy some greenery while admiring different neighborhoods of the capital and some of its grand monuments. In the end, this hike is more exotic and surprising than it may seem at first glance.
Along this hike, you can notably catch a glimpse of the Geode's disco ball, the Art Deco architecture of the Palais de la Porte Dorée, and the François-Mitterrand Library, which stands like an open book on the left bank of the Seine.
5- He passes by high sports places in Paris.
The GR 75 loop has the particularity of running alongside major sports centers in Paris such as the Parc des Princes and the Stade Charléty.
This long-distance trail, created for the Paris 2024 Games, also allows you to discover previous Olympic sites from 1900 and 1924:
• the Georges Vallerey swimming pool
• the Cipale velodrome
• the Trinquet, a former Basque pelota court
• the Auteuil lawns
