Canal St. Martin
 

Is the Canal St. Martin open in January for boat tours?<BR><BR>Edna

Edna:<BR>I know of 1 company that conducts those tours, Canauxrama:01 42 39 15 00. It ceases them in October, resuming in April. My wife gets cold on the river in mid-spring. I cannot imagine a January tour as pleasant.

This year the Canal was drained for cleaning/repairs etc... I think it is due to be refilled in March, which would allow for the cruises to start again in April.<BR><BR>We took this cruise in 1992 and loved every minute of it. You travel through "real" Paris and you're sitting down!

Oh well! I guess we'll have to walk it.<BR>Has anyone done that?<BR><BR>Thanks for your replies!<BR><BR>Edna

I have skipped some rocks there.<BR>

With the canal empty I can't imagine that the walk would be much fun as the neighborhoods themselves are not special -- it's the combination of "normal Paris" and the canal with water that work the magic.

I walked the length of the canal from the Place de la Republique to the Parc de la Villette. It is one of my favorite walks because it takes you through some neighborhoods untainted by tourism. I went during September and had the opportunity to watch the French playing boules along the canal and otherwise enjoying the outdoors. I don't know what it would be like during the winter. There are a couple of good restaurants along the canal to warm up in, if you need to.

Right now it's hard to walk as all of the construction equipment associated with the draining and repairing of the canal. I would plan on doing something different.

I was just in Paris; staying two blocks from the Canal. There was definitely water in the canal. I don't know about walking it now--since it's extremely cold <BR>I would wait for the weather to warm up a bit and it would be much more enjoyable.