A hidden address beneath the Petite Ceinture
Eleven railway vaults, nearly 2,000 m², and a free exhibition: Underline has just opened at 372 rue de Vaugirard, in Paris’s 15th arrondissement, a short walk from Hôtel Moderniste.
An unexpected cultural venue
For decades, the stone vaults of the Petite Ceinture remained in the shadows. They support the platform of the former railway line that encircles Paris, built between 1852 and 1869 and considered the capital’s first urban railway. Out of service since the 1990s, it is gradually being reinvented, from walking paths to community spaces.
Underline, run by the company Gabius, is the latest chapter in this revival. Open since September 18, 2026, the venue occupies eleven vaults and brings together exhibitions, shops, workshops and a café-bar under one roof. Its approach: not to be just a gallery, just a café or just a workshop, but all three at once.
A free exhibition with around forty artists
To inaugurate the space, the exhibition Les 4 éléments brings together around forty artists across four distinct atmospheres. It is an interactive exhibition: some artists work on site, and you may have the chance to meet them!
The focus here is on materials, gesture and the hand behind each work, at the crossroads of art and craft. And admission is free.
The architecture, the venue’s first masterpiece
The setting is already a spectacle: raw stone, monumental arches, extraordinary volumes. The works engage in dialogue with the building, and each vault has its own atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you look up as much as you look at the frames.
Shop, workshops and café-bar: plenty of reasons to linger
After the exhibition, you can browse the art shop, check out the scheduled workshops, or settle in at the café-bar. Its terrace of around 200 m² serves organic wines, local products and house-made drinks produced in France, including a lemonade and a plant-based cola.
A detour via the Petite Ceinture and Parc Georges-Brassens
Underline lends itself to a longer stroll. A recently opened stretch now connects the area around Parc Georges-Brassens to Place Balard: about 2 km of continuous walking path along the former railway, the longest section open to the public to date. A perfect way to extend your visit, among greenery and repurposed rails.
How to get there from Hôtel Moderniste
Underline is a 5-minute walk from Hôtel Moderniste, not far from Porte de Versailles station. Our team will be delighted to recommend other addresses in the neighborhood so you can make the most of your stay: don’t hesitate to ask at the front desk.
Open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm, and Sundays until 9 pm. A 5-minute walk from Hôtel Moderniste.