It’s a great place for a walk during the day, but after sundown a surprise awaits you too……

photos : JasonW


There’s nowhere else like it in Paris, great for a stroll, especially on a Sunday when the area is closed to traffic. The sun on the water, trees giving shade (and much-needed oxygen!), restaurants and bars for a relaxing meal or a drink… Yep, during the day quite a few people take advantage of the unique ambience of the Canal Saint Martin, but many of them don’t realise that the area also has its attractions at night…


Apart from the city lights reflected in the water, the bridges over the canal now have special lighting that gives them a very strange look. Holographic plates have been stuck to the sides and illuminated, giving an extraordinary futuristic rainbow glow…

These two bridges, named “Dieu” and “Grange aux Belles” after the streets they are on, were made in 1890, and swing round to allow barges to pass. A technological marvel in their day, they are now almost works of art at night, a mix of old ironwork and hi-tech visuals!

This effect had already been put in place a few years ago, but as time passed people stole or damaged the holographic plates. They have just been reinstated, and let’s hope that a system has been found to make them more solid this time. When you think that in the 60s the whole canal was nearly covered over and turned into a motorway, it’s enough to make you shudder!

Just below you’ll find a very quick film showing one of the bridges, and the Flickr gallery with more photos can be seen here. There also a map just below so you can find the two bridges in question. Have a great night-time (space)walk!

Bigger map here