The canal de l'Ourcq
A green corridor marked by Street Art
The Scandibérique route follows a section of the Ourcq Canal between Paris and Claye-Souilly, passing through the French county (département) of Seine-Saint-Denis and the towns of Pantin, Bobigny and Aulnay-sous-Bois. The Canal de l’Ourcq was built in the 19th century to supply the French capital with drinking water as well as to transport goods. The landscapes beside the canal take you from country settings to urban ones and transport you through the centuries, reflecting how Greater Paris has expanded. The Canal de l’Ourcq, once focused around industry, notably linked to transport by waterways, is now devoted to leisure transport, leisure activities and outings.
On this stretch of the Scandibérique, you’ll see several remarkable sights, from La Villette Basin and Park to the restored Grands Moulins, now banking headquarters for BNP Paribas, on the border with Pantin. Further on, the transformation of Les Magasins Généraux and Place de La Pointe have had a major impact on that area. Finally, the stretch of canal up to Bondy has become reputed for Parisian Street Art, with its succession of graffiti and colourful wall paintings. La Bergère Park at Bobigny marks the dividing line with the smaller, greener, more bucolic section of the canal.
