ALISA MARIE COCCARI

For centuries, artists, writers and lovers have been drawn to the historic Seine River. The river divides Paris’s Left and Right Banks — when heading downriver, the Left Bank will be on your left and the Right Bank on your right. Winding through Paris, the river’s edge makes for a natural jogging path. Take the stone steps down from street level and jog along the riverside under the bridges, passing the city’s most impressive sites along the way. With 32 spectacular bridges crossing the Seine, you will pass the oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, the Pont Des Arts and the ornate Pont Alexandre III. There is a newly installed 100-meter track under the Pont des Invalides, ideal for sprinters, interval and velocity trainers. The stone riverbanks are speckled with houseboats, floating cafes, musicians and picnicking Parisians, making this jogging route truly a moveable feast for the senses.

Designed by Nôtre, the gardener of Versailles, in 1664, the Tuileries Gardens offers winding pebble-gravel paths, which meander around formal gardens, fountains and sculptures. This park offers an inspiring jog, with sculptures such as Rodin’s “The Kiss” and Henry Moore’s “Reclining Figure,” among others, dotting the grounds like a veritable outdoor art museum. Begin at the historic Palais du Louvre and proceed through the formal manicured gardens, running parallel to the Rue de Rivoli. Continue to the Place de la Concorde, while admiring the full perspective of the Eiffel Tower. Jog past the L’ Orangerie, famous for featuring Monet’s “Waterlilies,” and continue through Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées to the historic Arc de Triomphe.

The 17th century Palais de Luxembourg’s gardens — the Jardin du Luxembourg — offer a runner’s delight. Joggers can run around the periphery of the park or tackle the gravel paths that cut through the splendid gardens. Extending over almost 60 acres, the Jardin du Luxembourg features formal French and English-style gardens, fountains, sculptures, ponds, an orangerie, a hot house full of tropical plants and a fruit garden. The park is accessible to the public from dawn to dusk.

Located on the western edge of Paris, the Bois de Boulogne is ideal for the jogger who enjoys nature. Jogging through the park, you will observe canoeing on Lac Inférieur and fishing in the smaller ponds. Your run here will also let you appreciate the hundreds of species of trees found throughout the park. For an extended jog, continue onward to the Chateau de Vincennes, a magnificent castle dating from the 14th to 17th centuries.

Situated in the wealthy neighborhood of the 8th arrondisement, the Parc Monceau welcomes joggers from dawn to dusk through her nine regal entrance gates. Jog the perimeter of this well-to-do park and marvel at the elegant homes which define its posh location. Inside its golden gates, jog past the charming lakes and imaginative faux ancient ruins that include a Temple of Mars, a Gothic castle, a Dutch-style windmill, an Egyptian pyramid, a Chinese pagoda and a Roman pond with Corinthian-style columns.