Ever heard of Am\u00e9lie skipping stones? It happened right here at Quai du Canal. This isn’t just a canal. It’s a slice of Parisian life. It’s more relaxed than downtown Paris.
Quai du Canal is in the trendy 10th arrondissement. The Canal Saint-Martin has been here for a long time. Napoleon I planned a canal network in the early 19th century. He wanted to bring drinking water to Paris. The Canal Saint-Martin connects to the Seine. It also connects to the Bassin de la Villette. Warehouses once lined the industrial area. Boats delivered merchandise here.
In the 20th century few tourists came here. The area gained fame with movies. H\u00f4tel du Nord featured it in 1938. Am\u00e9lie threw rocks in the canal in 2001. The neighborhood changed. The Canal Saint-Martin stepped into the limelight.
The banks of Quai du Canal were redone in the early 1990s. The waterway goes underground near la Bastille. Small gardens were built above it. It became a Historical Monument in 1993. The area became trendy. Locals and tourists both enjoy it now. Plane trees shade the canal banks. People enjoy picnics and cafes.
Traffic moves along Quai de Jemmapes and Quai de Valmy. Cast-iron footbridges add charm. Old locks entertain people. Boats wait their turn to move. Visitors and birds stop and watch the canal.
At night Quai du Canal is still magic. A walk along the canal includes sights and stops. Walk the length of the Canal Saint-Martin. It goes north toward le Bassin de la Villette. It is better than the crowded Seine river banks. The old port is the largest artificial lake in Paris. Warehouses are long gone. Today it offers relaxation and culture. There is a movie theater here. Barges host exhibits. There are also cafes and a bookstore. You can play p\u00e9tanque. A new swimming area opened in 2017. You can rent kayaks or electric boats.
Cross Place Stalingrad to see la Rotonde de la Villette. It is a historical building with a restaurant. Le Pavillon des Canaux is an old house. It has a terrace overlooking the basin. Paname Brewing Company is in a former granary. It offers microbrews and views of le Bassin de la Villette.
Le Bassin de la Villette is easy to reach. It is a short walk from le Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Canal boat tours are available. They take you to la Cit\u00e9 des Sciences et de l\u2019Industrie. You can watch outdoor movies in the summer.
Next time you are at Quai du Canal look around. You might spend a whole day here. It is relaxing and civilized by the water. The Canal Saint-Martin is 4.6 km long. It connects the Canal de l’Ourcq to the Seine. Almost half of it is covered. This created boulevards above.
The canal gets drained every 10 to 15 years. Parisians love to see what is found. They discover curiosities among discarded objects. Gaspard de Chabrol wanted to build the canal. It would supply fresh water to Paris. This would help avoid diseases. Construction was ordered by Napoleon I in 1802. It finished in 1825. A new tax on wine paid for it.
The canal supplied grain and building materials. Two ports were made to unload boats. These were Port de l’Arsenal and Bassin de la Villette. By the 1960s traffic was low. The canal almost became a highway.
The canal has the Quai de Valmy on the right bank. The Quai de Jemmapes is on the left. It passes through locks. It goes under tunnels to the Port de l’Arsenal.
Today the canal is a destination for tourists. They take cruises on passenger boats. Others watch boats use the locks. Many restaurants and bars are here. It is also popular with students.
The canal inspired painters. Graffiti art is visible along the canal. A multimedia art space is here. The canal was in the film H\u00f4tel du Nord. Am\u00e9lie skipped stones here in a film. Quai du Canal is more than just a waterway. It’s a place where history, art and modern life meet. Take a stroll and discover its unique charm.