Wednesday: May 26
The Serene Canal Saint-Martin
Canal Saint-Martin
Canal Saint-Martin is a 4.5 km long canal in Paris. It connects the Canal de
l'Ourcq to the river Seine.
Construction of the canal was ordered by Napoleon I in 1802, in order to create
an artificial waterway for supplying Paris with fresh water to support a growing
population and to help avoid diseases such as dysentery and cholera.
Gaspard de Chabrol, prefect of Paris, proposed to build a canal from the river
Ourcq (starting a hundred kilometers north-east of Paris). The canal was dug
from 1802 to 1825, funded by a new tax on wine. The canal was also used to
supply Paris with food (grain), building materials, and other goods, carried on
canal boats. Two ports were created in Paris on the canal to unload boats: Port
de l'Arsenal and Bassin de la Villette.
By the 1960s, traffic had dwindled to a trickle and the canal narrowly escaped
being filled in and paved over for a highway. Today, the canal is covered from
Rue du Faubourg du Temple to the Place de la Bastille.
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Place de la Bastille
The Place de la Bastille (Bastille Square) was the location of the notorious
Bastille stronghold, which was stormed on July 14, 1789, triggering the start of
the French Revolution.
The Stronghold - After the defeat of the French at Poitiers in 1356 during the
100 year war with England, there was need for a stronghold to protect Paris from
invasion.
Construction of this stronghold started in 1370 and was completed in 1382. Known
as the Bastille, the massive building had four meter wide walls and eight 22m
(72ft) high towers.
Bastille Prison - The stronghold was later converted into a prison by Richelieu.
Most of the prisoners were enemies of the king, sent to prison by a simple order
under the king's seal. Some of the most famous inmates were Voltaire , Fouquet
and Sade. The Bastille had a terrible reputation, but in reality there were few
prisoners and the treatment was better than in most prisons. Nonetheless, the
Bastille became a symbol of the arbitrariness of the monarchy.
Storming of the Bastille - On July 14, 1789 the Bastille was stormed by a crowd
reinforced with a rebellious detachment of the National Guard. The few guards
soon surrendered, and the 7 prisoners were freed.
The capture of the Bastille marks the start of the French Revolution. It is
celebrated each year as the Bastille Day, which was also declared the French
national holiday in 1860.
Demolishment - Two days after the crowds had captured the Bastille stronghold,
orders were given to demolish the building.
A marking in the Boulevard Henri IV shows where the former building was located.
Some stones of the foundation are visible in the Bastille subway station.
Bastille Square = The square of the Bastille was created later, in 1803. It
included a fountain in the shape of an elephant, which is referred to by Victor
Hugo in his novel 'Les Misérables'. The 24 meter high fountain was removed in
1847.
The only monument still standing on the square is the Colonne de Juillet, a
column commemorating another revolution in 1830 during which king Charles X was
replaced by king Louis-Philippe. The 52 meter high column (171 ft) honors the
504 victims during the 3 days of the revolution. Another 196 victims of yet
another revolution were added to the crypt in 1848. The column is topped by the
'Spirit of Liberty' statue.
Bastille Opera - During the bicentennial celebrations of the French revolution.
It was part of the 'grand projects' initiated by the former French president
François Mitterrand.
The massive building was meant to be a modern and democratic opera building, as
opposed to the aristocratic Palais Garnier. The Bastille Opera is by far the
largest opera building of the two. Its auditorium seats 2700 people.
The design by Carlos Ott, chosen from 750 entries in an international
competition, contrasts starkly with its environment. A metro exit as well as
shops are integrated in the building, reinforcing the idea of a 'people's
opera'.
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Click here to see other pictures.