Canal Saint-Martin

Canal Saint-Martin is a 4.5km long canal in Paris, France.

Geography

It stretches from the Square Frédérick Lemaître to the Rue Lafayette and shortcuts a long loop in the River Seine on the eastern side of Paris in the 10th arrondissement.

History

The canal was opened in 1825 after Napoleon had ordered the artificial waterway dug to supply Paris with water, however by the 1960s, traffic had dwindled to a trickle and the canal narrowly escaped being filled in and paved over for a highway. Today, the canal is covered from Rue du Faubourg du Temple to the Place de la Bastille.

Tourism

Today, the canal is a popular destination for Parisians and tourists who watch the barges navigate the series of locks and road bridges. There are also a number of popular restaurants and bars along it. The area is popular with students.

The canal in fiction

* The canal is featured in the 1938 movie "Hôtel du Nord", directed by Marcel Carné.
* The canal is featured in the 2001 movie "Amélie", in which Amélie Poulain enjoys skipping stones at the locks of the canal.