Rue Crémieux and Canal Saint Martin

Rue Crémieux and the Canal Saint Martin are two of the points among others that we will visit on this route, here we will get to know part of the 10th, 11th, and 12th districts.

On this route we will walk about 4 or 5 kilometers if you want to do it on foot, or we can do a section by subway.

Start of the route:

Indice:

Gare de Lyon

This beautiful train station will kick off this tour that will end at the Canal Saint Martin.

We are located in the 12th district, built in 1855 much of the station is listed as a historical monument, we distinguish it by its characteristic clock tower, the work of Charles Garnier, the same creator of the opera, and it is one of the great stations of Paris.

National and international lines pass through the same area, but we came to enjoy its beautiful construction.

We will walk about 400 meters to a street that is very photographed and famous on Instagram. We continue in the 12th arrondissement. The Rue Crémieux and then the Canal Saint Martin, already in the 10th arrondissement, await us.

►Have you seen our route through Montmartre?

Rue Crémieux

I told them not to forget the camera, right?

This Instagram-famous street, rue Crémieux, is a beautiful and colorful street in this twelfth arrondissement of Paris

Taking a nice photo is a good excuse to get to know this not so touristy district number XII, it is located between rue de Lyon andrue de Bercy.

After the sought-after photos, we set out on a walk of only about 300 meters through the streets of this 12th arrondissement until we reach the Viaduct des Arts.

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Viaduc des Arts

The Viaduct of the Arts is an old train line converted into a linear park above, and into artisans’ workshops below in what were the vaults of the viaduct.

Those who have visited the New York High Line will find its resemblance on the upper level, where the train ran is now a linear garden.

The line ran along what was the Bastille Viaduct from 1859 to 1969.

In 1979, the decision was made to convert the railway line into a public park and use the space beneath the viaduct’s vaults as places for craftsmen to work and display their products. In 1989, the first part of the garden was completed and in 1994, craftsmen began to move in.

The viaduct is 1.5 km long in total and has 64 arches, so you might not want to see the whole thing, but if you are in the area, at least go up and see what it is like. A different place in Paris, without a doubt.

We will continue walking, about 600 meters separate us from the Place de la Bastille already on the border with the XI arrondissement.

Place de la Bastille

A symbolic site of the French Revolution, it is located on the site of the former bastille fortress, taken on July 14, 1789.

In June 1794 the guillotine was installed in the square and there were 73 executed in this square during that period.

We are drawn here to the sight of the Julius Column with the Genius of Liberty on top. It was inaugurated in 1840, as nothing of the old fortress has remained. Its location is marked on the pavement.

Opposite the square is the other opera house in Paris, the Opéra Bastille. Built in 1989 and designed by the Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, it breaks with the designs of 19th-century opera houses.

Now, let’s go to the last visit, Canal Saint Martin.

Canal Saint Martin

We will have a long journey of more than 2 km so taking the metro is a good idea. (From Bastille station to Goncourt station) then walking along rue de Faubourg du temple you will end up on Boulevard Jules Ferry, there you will find the canal and begin a quiet and beautiful walk along it and climbing its bridges.

Have you thought about doing a free tour, they are always a good idea!

In our case we only did one section of the canal since the entire canal, which runs between districts X and XI, has a length of 4.5 kilometers, two of them underground.

It is inscribed as a historical monument, it was originally created to bring drinking water to the capital. It was inaugurated in 1825. It is composed of nine locks and two swing bridges.

In the film Amelie, the protagonist can be seen in one of the scenes throwing pebbles into the water.

In the mid-20th century, its navigation also allowed the transport of products. Since the 2000s, its function has been mainly for tourism and it is still occasionally used to transport goods.

If you are going to get a tourist pass (►Tourist Passes in Paris, yes or no?), put together well between which days you are going to use them (because yes, of course, there are a lot of important visits with paid tickets), and then take advantage of the rest of the days without a pass to do this type of routes at practically no cost, beyond transportation.