A Paris garden in the sky

Green walkways: a brilliant way to link and rejuvenate inner-city areas. In 2009, New York opened the High Line park, using a 1.5-mile stretch of abandoned elevated railway, while Chicago has plans for a nearly three mile-long Bloomingdale Trail, again along a disused rail line. In London, two architecture firms have won a competition to design a landscaped walkway just south of the River Thames, joining galleries, public works of art and an open-air auditorium.There’s also a proposal by Thomas Heatherwick, the designer behind the stunning Olympic cauldron, for a floating garden to bridge the Thames from Covent Garden to the South Bank.

But the project that started it all is in Paris - the Promenade Plantée, an aerial nature walk opened late last century (above and left). It snakes through the 12e arrondissment, using a derelict 19th c railway viaduct that once took passengers from Bastille, in the city centre, out to the leafy Bois de Vincennes. When the line was closed in 1969, the structure became a decaying eyesore. But instead of pulling it down, the authorities transformed it into a garden. The arches below became the Viaduc des Arts, with shops showcasing crafts such as cabinet making, tapestry restoration and interior design.

It’s easy to find. Walk south-east from Opéra Bastille along Rue de Lyon, into Avenue Daumesnil and you’ll see the walkway arches, surrounded by apartment buildings and offices. It runs for more than two and a half miles, later descending to street level and into tunnels. At times the path widens to formal parterres with trellised arbours, at others it becomes a narrow corridor, edged with trees. It’s a favourite with joggers, office workers on their lunch breaks, and parents with energetic youngsters. (At one point it overlooks a playground.) Local residents use it as a meeting place while garden enthusiasts linger over the planting. I saw one father using it to teach his young son about the way things grow. For tourists, it's a welcome contrast to the more usual sights. Even if you walk just a small section, you’ll never forget it. Take a picnic and prepare to be inspired.

Paris Valentine

Paris is still one of the world's most romantic cities, but did you know it has a Garden of Love?

Tucked away in the Cluny Museum's medieval garden, it's inspired by the pleasure gardens of the Middle Ages. Trellis and lattice-work give privacy to lovers, and in summer thyme, camomile, roses and carnations perfume the air. The garden is inspired by the Cluny's star attraction, the mysterious Lady with the Unicorn tapestries. The museum itself is housed in a 15th-century Gothic mansion, which was in turn built over the ruins of ancient Roman baths. I first saw the garden shortly after it was created in 2000. Now it's had time to develop and mature, it's a magical place for a picnic lunch or romantic rendezvous.The Cluny  - also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages (Musée National du Moyen Âge)  - is on the Left Bank, a short walk south from Notre Dame cathedral.
Closest Métro: Cluny-La Sorbonne
http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/