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

Geography

It stretches from the Square Flemaître to the Rue Lafayette and shortcuts a long loop in the River Seine on the eastern side of Paris in the Xe 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.

Tourism

Today, the canal is a popular destination for Parisians and tourists who watch the barges navigate the series of locks and road bridges.

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 where Amélie Poulain enjoys skipping stones at the locks of the canal.