Having a nice walk along the river is not only allowed to Paris city center inhabitant.
Enjoy the riverside peaceful atmosphere, far away from Seine's river, in the Northern Eastern side of Paris while visiting the Canal Saint Martin and the Bassin de la Villette.
Canal Saint Martin and La Villette is the former labourer and factory district of Paris.
It doesn't mean that the place cannot be lovely!
Canal Saint Martin is a nice place to go, but you will not find as many historical building as the one you have in Paris city center.
If you like street art and graffito's you will love the Canal Saint Martin district.
Canal Saint Martin is also a wonderful place to go out at night with your friends because you will find many pubs open with young people relaxing inside.
But let's go back to the main part, the Canal Saint Martin!
Canal Saint Martin was built by workers between 1805 and 1825, under the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon Bonaparte decided to build Canal Saint Martin to bring more drinkable water to Paris, in order to prevent the disease.
Canal Saint Martin is the name of the canal inside Paris border; relayed by Canal de l'Ourcq outside Paris border.
Long from 130 km, the canal was also used to deliver foods and construction materials to the city.
Inside the city border of Paris, Canal Saint Martin is divided in 3 parts:
- Canal Saint Martin and Bassin de la Villette (as discussed on this page)
- The secret underground part of Canal Saint Martin from République to Bastille.
- Port de l'Arsenal, Canal Saint Martin port, from Bastille to the banks of the Seine
Like other riverside banks of Paris, the bank of Canal Saint Martin is good to:
- have a nice time to relax and chill out with your friends
- have an aperitif during summer time
But we have to warn you that not all the banks of Canal Saint Martin are nice.
Canal Saint Martin bank is also a place where lower income residents live, so you might want to avoid some part of the Canal to walk or plan your meetings.
If you want to switch landscapes during your walk along Canal Saint Martin, we suggest you to peak a sneak also in the Parc de la Villette :)
A sample of Canal Saint Martin - Bassin de la Villette riverside:
How to get to Canal Saint Martin - Bassin de la Villette: Canal Saint Martin from 27 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75010 Paris (Place de la République) to Galerie de l'Ourcq, 75019 Paris
- M2-5-7 Stalingrad, M2-5-7bis Jaurès, M5 Laumière - Ourcq or Porte de Pantin, M7 Riquet or Crimée, M4-5-7 Gare de l'Est, M3-5-8-9-11 République
Tramway: T3 Porte de la Villette
Bus: 26-46-48-54-60
Vélib' (City Bike): 11036 Rue du Temple - 10010, 10011, 10013, 10014, 10015, 10025, 10037, 19003, 19004, 19011, 19015, 19029, 19116, 19117, 19125
Noctilien (Night Bus): N01-N02-N13-N14-N41-N42-N43-N44-N45-N140-N141-N142-N143-N144-N145 Gare de l'Est
N12-N23 République
N13-N41-N42-N45 Jaurès
- Map of the nicest banks of Canal Saint Martin (coming soon)
- Canal Saint Martin bank access 24/7