Photos: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Freepenguin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo credits
Photos: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Freepenguin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
The canal's locks, opening one boat at a time
Your local guide
Guillaume Martin
View profile
Highlights
- Locks that still raise and lower real boats
- Iron footbridges over a working canal
- Tree-lined banks barely changed in a century
- The mechanics behind a well-known view
- A calm morning walk along the water
About this tour
This call follows the locks and footbridges of the Canal Saint-Martin, tracing how boats still move between sections of different water levels. Guillaume walks along the tree-lined Quai de Valmy, explaining how little the canal's structure has changed since it carried mostly barge traffic. The session focuses on the mechanics of the canal as much as its atmosphere.
Guillaume opens at one of the locks with a short sound check. He walks at an easy pace along the quay, answering questions about the canal's engineering as they arrive, and sends a short note on the best times to see a lock in use.
It suits anyone curious about how the canal actually works rather than just how it looks. It also works well as a calm morning walk away from the busier parts of the city.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Paris before heading out.
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Canal Saint-Martin locks 15 min
The camera follows the canal's iron footbridges and locks, and Guillaume explains how the water level changes step by step as boats move between sections.
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Quai de Valmy 15 min
Walking along the quay, Guillaume points out how the canal's tree-lined banks have stayed largely unchanged since barges, not tourists, were its main traffic.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about Paris: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Soupe à l'oignon and Latin Quarter, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Paris time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Paris, showing you Canal Saint-Martin locks and Quai de Valmy live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the canal live with my phone.
Times shown in Paris time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Mon 2 Nov · 12 seats left From 19,00 €
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