A stroll around Douai’s marina

Park in the car park on Boulevard Lahure in Douai, in front of the café “Le Bar de la Marine”.

(S/E) To the left of the café, take the steps leading down to the canal banks and turn left to go under the bridge. Keep going straight ahead and walk along the left bank of the canal.

(1) Underneath the road bridge, you’ll find the first mural, featuring a magnificent tiger’s head. Carry on straight ahead. At the junction of the canals, continue to follow the bank.

(2) Take the path that climbs to the left and leads to the red Claude Darnal footbridge. Cross it and carry on straight ahead until you reach the Expo-Gayant car park.

(3) As you walk alongside the car park, you can admire a stencil depicting a skeleton by Kusek. Then head back towards the red footbridge via the small path on the left. Pass under the footbridge and discover other works of art beneath the railway bridge. Carry on to the next bridge (the one on Boulevard Vauban) to see the graffiti by Deuz.

(4) Carry on along the river to enter the town of Douai via the Quai des Houillères. Walk to the blue drawbridge.

(5) Cross it, then turn right onto the towpath, which will take you back under the last bridge you crossed. More graffiti awaits you a little further on.

(6) These graffiti and murals are on the wall of the business on your left. To see them, you’ll need to climb slightly up the embankment. Carry on along the path until you reach another bridge you passed on the way here, which is also decorated on this side.

A little curiosity: the pet cemetery is situated to the left of the barrier you’ll need to cross, just before you walk alongside the marina and admire the moored boats. You’re almost there. Simply cross the bridge on the right to reach your car, which is parked 100 metres ahead of the café (S/E).