“Who was Cesária Évora?” I ask. Promenade Cesária Évora is named after this famous singer from Cape Verde. This garden promenade in Paris is more than just a green space. It is a tribute to a remarkable artist.
Promenade Cesária Évora is located in the 19th arrondissement. It sits in the Pont-de-Flandre district. You can reach it via the RER E line or tramway line 3b. Get off at the Rosa-Parks station.
This space wasn’t always a garden. It used to be access ramps for the Macdonald warehouse. There was also a car park and old railway lines. As part of the Paris Nord-Est project, the warehouse was converted. The ramps were removed. The railway lines became unnecessary.
The city decided to create a garden in this limited space. Before construction began, the paved area served as an unofficial parking lot. The Promenade Cesária Évora opened in two stages in 2019. The west part opened in the summer. The second part opened in December.
The Promenade Cesária Évora has a triangular shape. It covers 10,800 square meters. It is bordered by Rue Cesária Évora and the railway lines of Gare de l’Est. The Rosa-Parks station is nearby. The Quai de la Gironde runs along the Canal Saint-Denis to the east.
The garden is open and has no fences. The Promenade Cesária Évora integrates the old Petite Ceinture railway lines. These lines are now part of the lawn and paving.
The Promenade Cesária Évora is near the Canal Saint-Denis. This allows for more humid vegetation at that end. The western part has themed areas. These are called themed rooms.
The garden is a blend of relaxation and recreation. It also provides an ecological connection. It links the Petite Ceinture and the Canal Saint-Denis. The plants are mostly native species. This makes it a haven for local wildlife.
In the west, you’ll find three themed areas. There is an urban area. Then a green area. And finally an art and photography area. Children can enjoy wooden games. There are many activities spread across four spaces. The design uses shapes and plant volumes to create a unique atmosphere.
The eastern part is more intimate. It has meeting spaces and community gardens. The vegetation here is typical of wetlands. When created, the garden included 64 new trees. Forty-six of these were fruit trees. It also has thousands of square meters of shrubs and plants. There are accessible lawns and grass-covered paving stones.
So next time you are near the Rosa-Parks station, take a stroll through the Promenade Cesária Évora. Remember the singer. Remember the transformation of this space.