| Canal Saint-Martin | |
|---|---|
 Plan of the Canal Saint-Martin | |
 Interactive map of Canal Saint-Martin | |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi) |
| Maximumboat length | 40.70 m (133.5 ft) |
| Maximumboat beam | 7.70 m (25.3 ft) |
| Locks | 9 |
| History | |
| Current owner | Ville de Paris |
| Date approved | 1802 |
| Date completed | 1825 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Paris Place de Stalingrad (Bassin de la Villette, Canal de l'Ourcq) |
| End point | Paris Quai de la Râpée (entrance lock from Seine) |
| Beginningcoordinates | 48°53′32″N2°23′10″E / 48.8923°N 2.3862°E /48.8923; 2.3862 |
| Endingcoordinates | 48°50′48″N2°21′57″E / 48.8468°N 2.3657°E /48.8468; 2.3657 |
| Connects to | Canal de l'Ourcq andRiver Seine |
TheCanal Saint-Martin (French pronunciation:[kanalsɛ̃maʁtɛ̃]) is a 4.6 km (2.86 mi) longcanal inParis, connecting theCanal de l'Ourcq to the riverSeine. Nearly half its length (2,069 metres (2,263 yd)), between the Rue du Faubourg du Temple and thePlace de la Bastille, was covered in the mid-19th century to create wide boulevards and public spaces on the surface.[1] The canal is drained and cleaned every 10–15 years, and it is always a source of fascination for Parisians to discover curiosities and even some treasures among the hundreds of tons of discarded objects.
Gaspard de Chabrol, prefect of Paris, proposed building a canal from the river Ourcq, 100 km northeast of Paris, to supply the city with fresh water to support a growing population and help avoid diseases such asdysentery andcholera, while also supplying fountains (including the monumentalElephant of the Bastille) and allowing the streets to be cleaned. Construction of the canal was ordered byNapoleon I in 1802 and construction took place until 1825, funded by a new tax on wine.
The canal was also used to supply Paris with grain, building materials and other goods, carried on canal boats. Two ports were created on the canal in Paris to unload the boats:Port de l'Arsenal and theBassin de la Villette.
By the 1960s, traffic had dwindled to a trickle and the canal narrowly escaped being filled in and paved over for a highway.
The entrance to the canal from the vast terminal basin (Bassin de la Villette) of theCanal de l'Ourcq is at a doublelock near thePlace de Stalingrad. Continuing towards the riverSeine, the canal is bordered by the Quai de Valmy on the right bank and the Quai de Jemmapes on the left, passing through three more double staircase locks before disappearing under the three successivevoûtes (tunnels) – du Temple, Richard-Lenoir and Bastille – to emerge in thePort de l'Arsenal, the principal port for boats visiting and residing in Paris.
Today, the canal is a popular destination for Parisians and tourists. Some take cruises on the canal in passenger boats. Others watch the barges and other boats navigate the series of locks and pass under the attractive cast-iron footbridges. There are many popular restaurants and bars along the open part of the canal, which is also popular with students.
The canal can be accessed from the followingParis Métro stations:Stalingrad,République,Goncourt,Jacques Bonsergent,Jaurès.
Art
The canal inspired painters such asAlfred Sisley (1839-1899). In the present day, many intricate works of graffiti are visible along the canal, and there is a large multimedia art space on its banks at the former municipal undertakers building at 104 rue d'Aubervilliers ('104').
Film and television
Music
Literature
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