Canal Saint-Denis

Location map | France Paris
label=Canal Saint-Denis
lat= 48.892
long=2.386
position=right
width= 200
float=right
caption=The location between the Bassin de la Villette and the Parc de la Villette where the Canal Saint-Denis splits from the Canal de l'Ourcq.The Canal Saint-Denis is a convert|6.6|km|mi-long canal in Paris, France. The canal connects the Canal de l'Ourcq, at a point just east of the Bassin de la Villette, with the suburban municipalities of Saint-Denis and Aubervilliers. Near Saint-Denis, the canal enters the Seine. There are seven locks along the canal's route.cite book|title=Cruising French Waterways|author=Hugh McKnight|publisher=Sheridan House, Inc|date=2005|isbn=9781574092103|page=67|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Gm63fwrQ3gsC&pg=PA68&dq=canal+de+l%27ourcq&ei=2j7LSKyXLIqEywTc-9X3DA&sig=ACfU3U3WJ2fntSkoNEOFwTouVqCuel-PXw#PPA67,M1]

In order to expedite shipping and avoid ships traveling through the Seine, the canal was ordered to be built by decree from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and was completed in 1821. Contracts to build and operate the canals were given to private banking firms. These contracts required the city of Paris to purchase land, while the firms of Roman Vassal, Lafitte, André and Cottier were to construct the waterways. Additionally, the private firms were able to collect tolls on the canal for a term of ninety-nine years.

The canal is part of the Parisian canal network, which is operated by the city. The other members of the network are the Canal de l'Ourcq, the Bassin de la Villette and the Canal Saint-Martin. Together, these canals cover roughly convert|130|km|mi of the city.

History

Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the creation of a Parisian canal network on May 19, 1802. Specifically, he decreed that the Seine be diverted from below the Bassin de l'Arsenal to the Bassin de la Villette. The canal would continue through Saint-Denis in order to avoid a shipping canal passing through the center of Paris. Additionally, the new canal would expedite navigation by avoiding the Seine's meandering turns.

Private financiers were awarded the contract to construct and manage the canals. The city of Paris agreed to purchase the land and surrender the tolls for 99 years in order that the firms build the canals (the cost of construction was estimated at 6 million francs). Work began in 1805 under Édouard de Villiers du Terrage. In May 1821, the canal opened, having been completed with less than its allotted budget.cite book|title="Planning the French Canals: Bureaucracy, Politics, and Enterprise Under the Restoration"|author=Reed G. Geiger|publisher=University of Delaware Press|date=1994|isbn=9780874135275|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5oDeDhCzspwC&pg=PA156&dq=canal+saint-denis&ei=VJ3NSIfxFJX8ygT41oTlBA&sig=ACfU3U2pHvqEIWrB76ZKh5EotaWZwTFs1A#PPA156,M1|page=156] cite web |url=http://en.structurae.de/projects/data/index.cfm?ID=p00421 |title=Structurae [en] : "Canal Saint-Denis" |format= |work= |accessdaymonth=14 September |accessyear = 2008] At its creation, the canal had twelve locks with an overall change in level of convert|28.34|m|ft.

Between 1890 and 1895, the canal was reconstructed and enlarged in order to permit the passage of wide-gauge barges and the number of locks was reduced from twelve to eight. The first lock was named "Écluse du Pont de Flandre" ("Flanders Bridge Lock") and alone covered convert|10|m|ft, replacing 4 of the older locks. In 2008, the canal was composed of seven locks.

Since 1983 the canal has been open to pleasure craft.

Technical specifications

The canal has an average width of convert|70|m|ft, and ranges from convert|30|m|ft to convert|140|m|ft at the extremes. The canal covers roughly 36 hectares of Parisian public space. The waters are open 365 days a year and together with the Canal de l'Ourcq and the Canal Saint-Martin carry between 500,000 and 1 million tons per year.

The depth varies from convert|3.2|m|ft to convert|3.5|m|ft. This permits wide-gauge barges and craft up to a maximum of 1,000 tons. Vessels may travel the canal if their width is less than convert|8|m|ft, their air draft less than convert|4.4|m|ft, and their draft less than convert|2.6|m|ft. Launching slips are located at Pont de Stains in Aubervilliers.

The canal is crossed by thirteen roads and railways.

Tourism and management

Management

The canal has been recognized as a unifying factor in the Parisian urban area in a study by architect Michel Corajoud. This emanates from the fact that the canal links Paris with Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis. It is a part of the Communauté de communes de la Plaine de France, a federation of communities organized to coordinate local tasks.

The following improvements have been undertaken:

* The creation and maintenance of a path continuing from the Parc de la Villette, which allows the passage of bicycles, pedestrians, and rollerskaters. [There are future plans for the route to become part of a proposed Paris - London bike path]
* The lighting of the thirteen bridges that cross the canal.

Most of the plans have been completed and were inaugurated at the Seine nautical festival in 2006. However, a convert|1.6|km|mi region remains to be finished, and should be complete by 2012.fr "Le Moniteur des travaux publics et du bâtiment", 11 juillet 2008] .

Points of interest

The canal passes by a number of tourist spots:
* Parc de la Villette
* Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
* Cité de la Musique
* Théâtre équestre Zingaro
* Académie Fratellini
* Basilique Saint-Denis
* Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Saint-Denis
* Stade de France
* The Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur, in the basements of the old Abbaye royale de Saint-Denis
* Le Musée de l’Orfèvrerie Bouilhet-Christofle

Notes

External links

[http://www.geoportail.fr/visu2D.do?cg=djoxLjEqYzptZXRyb3BvbGUqY3Y6MS4wKnZ2OjEuMSp4eToyLjM3MTM5ODk4MTA2NjU4NDV8NDguOTE1OTQ4MjE4MzY0Njkqczo3KnB2OjEuMCpwOmRlY291dmVydGUqbDpTY2FufDF8MzV8Mg%3D%3D The location of the canal on geoportail.fr]