La Petite Ceinture is a former railway loop built around Paris to connect rail lines and carry freight, passengers, and military traffic. Its abandoned sections now form a varied urban edge where industrial infrastructure meets spontaneous vegetation and new public uses.
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The tracks once joined parts of Paris that the main railway companies kept separate. Built in stages between 1852 and 1869, La Petite Ceinture created a circular railway linking stations and freight networks around the city. It also served military transport along the former fortifications.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- The line was built in stages from 1852 to 1869.
- Passenger service ended in 1934.
- It carried over 39 million passengers in 1900.
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