The Canal Saint-Martin in Paris stretches from the river Ourcq 100km North East of the capital right into the centre of the city to its basin at the Place de la Bastille. Originally created between 1802 & 1825, its purpose was to supply the growing population with fresh water to guard against water borne diseases. The canal was also the simplest route for getting heavy goods such as food stuffs and building materials into the heart of the city. By the 1960’s the river traffic on the canal had all but ended and a large stretch of its route was paved over as it neared the centre of town. Always pleasant to walk along, these images were taken during a cold snap early in 2012
