Historical route through Saint-Denis and walk along the canal

Starting point and access: Basilica of Saint-Denis.
- Metro - Line 13, Saint-Denis Basilique station. Take Exit 2 to Place du Caquet (marked on the map).
- Tram - Line T1, Basilique de Saint-Denis station. Follow Chemin des Poulies southwards and emerge at Place du Caquet at the metro exit.

Historical route of Saint-Denis

No signposting
The route is marked by 20 numbered themed information points. On the map, these points, as well as other information points, are indicated by the letter i.

(S/E) Head towards the junction with Rue Jean Jaurès: upon exiting the metro station, turn around on the square; if arriving by tram, continue straight ahead. Turn left into Rue Jean Jaurès (ignore the sign opposite reading “Historical Trail Marker 1”). Ignore the side streets on the right and you’ll come to an ancient ruin on the left-hand side of the street (three pillars and a stone lintel). Then turn sharply right into Rue de Strasbourg and walk along the right-hand side of the former premises of the newspaper L’Humanité. You’ll reach the apse of the basilica.

(1) Marker 1 is supposed to be at the entrance to the Pierre de Montreuil Garden but... impossible to find (despite going round and round in circles). As this marker is dedicated to the legend of Saint Denis, enter the Pierre de Montreuil Garden and go to the foot of the North Gate dedicated to this legend. Retrace your steps.

(1) On leaving the garden, turn left onto the Allée des 6 Chapelles and find Marker 2. Continue in the same direction, take the covered passageway known as the 2 Pichets and find Marker 3 opposite on the Place du Caquet. Turn left, pass under a very high footbridge connecting two buildings and emerge onto Place Victor Hugo (Marker 4). Turn immediately left towards the basilica (Marker 5). Then turn right and walk along the front of the basilica.

You will find Marker 6 at the start of a small square situated between Rue de la Boulangerie and Rue de la Légion d’Honneur (straight ahead if coming directly from Marker 5, on the left if emerging from a visit to the basilica). Cross the small square to reach the other side (Marker 7). Then turn right and you will immediately find Marker 8 at No. 2 Rue du Cygne. Continue along Rue de la Boulangerie, passing Rue des Boucheries (Marker 9), Rue du Jambon (Marker 10) and Rue Lanne (Marker 11) in turn. Then continue south along Rue Gabriel Péri. You will emerge onto Place de la Résistance (Marker 12).

(2) Walk along the square with the Memorial to the Deportation on your right. Pass Marker 13 and continue along Rue Gabriel Péri (Museum of Art and History on the left). Cross Rue des Carmélites (Marker 14) and join Rue de la Légion d'Honneur (Marker 15). Continue towards the Stade de France, clearly visible to the south (Marker 16 on the right), and cross Rue de la Barbacane (Metro).

(3) Cross the tram tracks (take care) then a wide avenue (traffic lights). Follow the pedestrian sign for “Stade de France” and walk over the motorway slip roads. On the esplanade (Marker 17), turn left, go under the A1 motorway bridge and arrive at the foot of a wide staircase (Marker 18). Climb the stairs and cross the Canal de Saint-Denis via the footbridge (on the right, a lock and a motorway bridge). Walk to the end of the footbridge to reach the foot of the Stade de France (Marker 19). Then turn left, walk along the north bend of the stadium on your right (view of the basilica on the left), pass gates L and K, and reach Marker 20.

Continue in the same direction, ignoring Rue Jules Rimet on the right (which runs alongside the stadium) and continuing along Rue Henri Delaunay, which descends and curves to the right after a bus stop. At the roundabout at the bottom, turn left. At the traffic lights, turn right and cross a street, then turn left and cross Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Then take the footbridge over the canal.

Walk along the Canal Saint-Denis

Red and white + yellow markings
The markings are intermittent but, as the route follows the canal’s pedestrian and cycle path continuously (the latter being on the right-hand side), this poses no difficulty.

(4) At the end of the footbridge, turn right and follow the pedestrian walkway running alongside the canal. Pass under a small road bridge at the boundary between the municipalities of Saint-Denis and Aubervilliers (sign for the opposite bank), then under the A86 motorway bridge. Next, pass under a railway bridge, going round the pier on the left. Continue along Quai Jean-Marie Tjibaou (which starts earlier than shown on the map) and walk alongside the gates of Lock No. 4. After a cobbled path, return to the canal bank and pass under a footbridge.

(5) Continue along the quay, which narrows, to pass under a road bridge. Walk past workshops/warehouses on your left. Then go round the base of a footbridge on the left and turn right onto the cobbled quay. At lock no. 3, first turn left then right and continue along a cobbled path. Return to the canal bank and walk alongside Square Aimé Césaire on your left. Pass under a road bridge again (Line 12 metro works in December 2016) and continue along the quay with warehouses on your left.

(6) Walk past Lock No. 2 and enter Paris (sign for the opposite bank). Pass under the Boulevard Périphérique bridge and then under the Boulevard MacDonald bridge. Before the railway bridge, turn left, go up a ramp and pass under the bridge. Continue along the quay overlooking the canal. Cross Avenue Corentin Cariou (traffic lights), follow it to the left and you will find Porte de la Villette station on your right (E).

To get back home:
- Metro - Line 7.
- Tram - Line T3b.

Trainers are sufficient for this route, which is entirely on tarmac, concrete or paved surfaces. Bars and restaurants are available near the start and finish points.

A map is required (at the very least the one accompanying this description). The time given is walking time and does not include stops at information points or a visit to the basilica.

Visit to the Basilica of Saint-Denis:
- Self-guided tour, except for the necropolis of the kings of France (€9.00 per person in January 2019).
- See detailed opening hours.

Walkers should be aware that this urban route takes place in an environment characterised by the presence of numerous transport routes (roads, motorways, railway lines) and various workshops or warehouses along the canal.

Alternative route:
If you wish to stick to the historical route, at Marker 20, at the foot of the Stade de France, turn back, cross the canal again and head to the Saint-Denis Porte de Paris metro station (line 13).

This walk has been completed twice by the author, the first time on 28 December 2016 and the second on 6 January 2017.

Historical route of Saint-Denis:

The route was designed and developed by Nicole Rodrigues and Michael Wyss (Archaeology Unit of the City of Saint-Denis), Luc Fochois (historian) and Jean Kiras (visual artist). The themed markers feature text illustrated with maps, photos, reproductions of archaeological objects, etc.

The Basilica of Saint-Denis is, of course, a major site on this trail, but it is not the only point of interest. Of particular note are the moving Memorial to the Deportation of the Dionysiens (the name given to the town’s inhabitants) and the Stade de France.

For further information:
- The Seine-Saint-Denis Tourism page dedicated to the historical trail.
- The page on the Patrimoine et Histoire website dedicated to the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
- An extract fromthe Historical Atlas of Saint-Denis (1999).
- Archaeological studies in the town of Saint-Denis (2014).

A stroll along the Canal Saint-Denis:

The Canal Saint-Denis is ideal for a leisurely stroll, particularly in the afternoon, when the pedestrian and cycle path is bathed in sunshine.