This photograph by Jacques Normand captures a glimpse of Paris's historic Petite Ceinture railway line, a remarkable 32-kilometer circular railway that encircled the city during the late 19th century. Built between 1852 and 1900, the Petite Ceinture served as a crucial transportation artery, connecting Paris's major railway stations during the Industrial Revolution.

The railway line was initially constructed to serve both military and commercial purposes. It allowed troop movements along the city's fortifications and facilitated the movement of goods between Paris's separate railway stations. At its peak, it was a symbol of progress and modernity in the rapidly developing French capital.

However, passenger service ceased by 1934 due to competition from automobiles and the newer Paris Métro system. Parts of the line continued to carry freight until the early 1990s, after which much of it was abandoned. Today, while some sections have been converted into public walkways and green spaces (similar to New York's High Line), other portions remain fascinating urban ruins, home to abundant wildlife and vegetation—a hidden world above and below the busy streets of modern Paris.

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