Napoleon ordered the canal built in 1802 to bring clean drinking water into Paris and shortcut barge traffic around the Seine's bends. It still carries commercial boat traffic through iron footbridges and locks, but its tree-lined banks are better known today for the crowds who show up with wine and takeout the moment the sun comes out.
- Watching a barge work through one of the locks is free entertainment — they still operate as functioning infrastructure, not for show
- The quays fill with picnickers on weekend evenings; bring a blanket and something from a nearby shop rather than looking for seating
- Independent boutiques and concept shops cluster along Rue de Marseille and Rue Beaurepaire, distinct from the big-name shopping streets
- Hours
- Canal always accessible
- Price
- Free to wander
- Tip
- Boat cruises run the length of the canal and connect to the Seine — a relaxed way to see a very different side of Paris.
Nearby
- P Place de la République · square
- B Belleville · neighborhood
- G Gare de l'Est · train station