Canal de l’Ourcq et Bassin de La Villette

The Canal de l’Ourcq and the Bassin de La Villette were dug in the 19th century to supply Parisians with drinking water, and since then they have undergone a series of transformations up to the 1980s. It was during this period that the major project to rehabilitate the La Villette district and to create the park to which they now belonged was launched. As far as the Bassin and the Canal Saint-Martin, the Canal de l’Ourcq only follows a small part of its route. Almost 100 km long in total, it is one of the itineraries for cycling to England!

But let’s head down the Canal de l’Ourcq from the hotel to explore the district. And even more! If you follow the banks of the canal, you’ll come across the Parc de La Villette. Here you’ll find a wide range of activities on offer all year round, in all weathers, for all ages. With children’s playgrounds, a theatre, a horse-riding club, bars, restaurants, a bookshop and lawns for huge picnics, the banks of the canal are also a favourite meeting place for lovers of sport, leisure, and culture.

Continuing a little further along the cobbled lanes, we come to the Crimée lift bridge, a technical and architectural masterpiece that marks the boundary with the Bassin de La Villette. This major centre of 19th-century river trade was in its golden age. It too was abandoned in the 1970s and owes its resurrection to the extension of the Parc de La Villette. Today, the Bassin attracts walkers, residents, Parisians, and tourists alike, and has become a very popular place for all kinds of activities and leisure pursuits.

Petanque courts, a city park, bars, restaurants, and cinemas line the banks of the Canal de l’Ourcq. It’s also a great place to sail all year round! Small boats, cruises and houseboats take visitors on a tour of the Bassin, before continuing to the Canal Saint-Martin via the lock.
During the summer, when “Paris Plage” begins, the banks are transformed and come alive even more. 3 pools are set up on floating pontoons, and the guinguettes, dance classes, entertainment and terraces are all open. All year round, the cultural barges that remain moored offer shows, exhibitions, and concerts.
The Canal de l’Ourcq then ends its course at the end of the Bassin, arriving at the lock where walkers gather to watch the boats pass by from the top of the bridge that spans it.

From the hotel to the Bassin, via the Canal de l’Ourcq and through the Parc de La Villette, you’ll need less than 30 minutes. But you could easily spend the whole day there! The ReMIX Hôtel is ideally located, very close to the Canal de l’Ourcq and its many leisure, relaxation, and cultural activities. What a lovely walk, isn’t it? Come along, we’re waiting for you.

How to get to the Canal de l’Ourcq and the Bassin de La Villette from the hotel?

• On foot: 16 mins from the hotel via the Canal Saint-Denis
• By metro: Line 7 Porte de La Villette Station, 1 minute walk from the hotel
• By bus: Line 60 Corentin Cariou Station