Bassin de la Villette
The Bassin de la Villette is the largest artificial waters of Paris. Previously hub of inland waterways, it is now a recreational area in the 19th arrondissement.
History
Construction under Napoleon Bonaparte
With the aim to improve the drinking water supply of the city, Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed on May 28, 1802 the following law:
" Il sera ouvert un canal de la rivière de Dérivation d' Ourcq; elle sera amenée à Paris, près à un bassin de la Villette. [ ...] » ( There is a channel opened, the water branches off from the river Ourcq Paris and supplies, in a basin at La Villette. )
Tasked with the construction of the 700 by 70 meters wide and two meters deep basins as well as its connection to the Canal de l' Ourcq was the architect Pierre -Simon Girard. He designed the basin as bisector of the two trade routes Route de Flandre and Route d' Allemagne (today Avenue de Flandre and Avenue Jean -Jaurès ), and dressed it out exactly on the axis of the in 1788 established a customs station Rotonde de la Villette.
After three years of construction ( 1805-1808 ), the basin was opened on 2 December 1808 and was soon regarded as Little Venice of Paris. Its shores, soon adorned with avenues, became a favorite place in Paris for taking a walk. In the then still rural area there were soon several restaurants and Guinguettes. It jousts were held. In cold winters has been skated, the ladies drove sled on the basin.
During the Industrial Revolution
Following the expansion of the Paris waterways and in particular the construction of the Canal Saint -Martin in 1825, the economic importance increased. 1838 ran about ten thousand ships to the basin.
Movement of goods in the Bassin de la Villette
By 1860, the Bassin de la Villette was at the gates of Paris. Here could be deleted outside the city limits goods without paying excise duty. Because of these favorable tax situation quickly settled trading companies, including built by the Society of Généreaux Magasins, the large warehouses, a slaughterhouse and a cattle market. At the World Exhibition of 1878 two more warehouses were made of steel and brought to the district of La Villette the reputation of " warehouse of Paris".
Between 1880 and 1883 the basin was deepened to 3.2 meters and enlarged. A second, about 600 meters long extension basin between the Rue de Crimée and the rond - point des Canaux today Parc de la Villette was expanded. This required a new bridge. In the Rue de Crimée the swing bridge in 1885 by a bascule bridge ( pont levant) was replaced. Today it is the last of its kind in Paris.
De-industrialization in the 20th century
Since the 1950s, the warehouses have been with the de-industrialization increasingly abandoned and fell into disrepair. 1973 joined the cattle market. Began in 1988, an urban development program with a volume of more than 100 million euros, which should enhance the district. It originated among other social housing, offices, artist studios, two waterfronts and two built in old warehouses multiplex cinemas. One of the 1990 spent Magasins Généreaux was converted into a youth hostel and hotel and the Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad before the Rotunda was redesigned. 2010 ran out of the urban development program.
Cultural and leisure activities
Today in the Bassin de la Villette are numerous former barges that have been converted into venues and cafes. Among the Peniche Opera with music theater and children's ship Peniche Antipode. A small ferry connects the eastern Quai de la Loire with the Quai de la Seine. The MK2 cinemas on both sides of the basin are operated by the filmmaker Marin Karmitz. Since 2007, the Bassin de la Villette is part of Paris -Plages.