Your cruise begins at Port de Paris-Arsenal, just below Bastille, where you board in a setting that already feels removed from the classic tourist routes.

As you continue, the cruise highlights the canal’s remarkable engineering heritage. You pass through 2 double locks, watching the changing water levels that once made this waterway an essential industrial route through the capital. You also see 2 swing bridges open to let the boat through, adding a distinctive mechanical spectacle to the journey.

One of the most memorable moments is the passage beneath the Bastille Tunnel, a long covered section that gives the cruise a dramatic and unusual character. Throughout the ride, the guide shares stories about the canal’s history, its artistic and cinematic associations, and its evolution into one of the most atmospheric parts of Paris. The cruise ends at Square Raoul Follereau, near quai de Valmy, a great area to continue exploring on foot.