Wednesday 23 May on the Canal de l'Ourcq II

canal de l'Ourcq at Bondy

This week on Wednesday 23 May Daniel Perot will lead us along a portion of the Canal de l'Ourcq.


The canal was conceived to bring badly-needed water to Paris as well as to provide a waterway for the transport of building materials from the Forêt de Retz. It takes water from the River Ourcq which flows into the Marne.  Its construction dates from the beginning of the 19th century under Napoleon I, but talk of bringing water to Paris goes back as far as Louis XIV. Wikipedia gives a detailed history of the canal.


Much of the section that we will walk through is lined by poplar trees. We will also visit the Parc de Sevran where we will see traces of the ruins of the National Gunpowder Factory which operated from 1873 to 1973. 


Departure from the gare d'Hausmann Saint Lazare (RER E). Train COHI, 9.57. Direction : Gare de Chelles-Gournay.  Arrival gare de Bondy (zone 3) 10.13. You can board this train at the Gare de Magenta at 10.01. Buy a one-way ticket to Bondy.


The station Haussmann Saint Lazare is adjacent to and accessible from the gares Saint Lazare or Auber, direction RER E. The station Magenta is adjacent to and accessible from the gare du Nord, direction RER E.


The walk will last 3½ hours. For a shorter walk (2½ hours) possible return from the station Vert Galant (zone 4) RER B.


Return will be from Villeparisis (zone 5) on RER B.


Don't forget your rain gear, sun gear, lunch, water and adequate shoes.


Daniel's contact details are:     daniel.perot@free.fr     09 50 56 65 26
     01 45 90 65 26     Mobile 06 99 20 70 79 (only on the day of the walk).


See you on Wednesday!

canal de l'Ourcq at Sevran