Situated to north-east of the capital, the Canal de l'Ourcq was built in the 19th century by Napoleon to provide Parisians with drinking water. Towards 1850, drinking water was found elsewhere and the canal network (which includes Saint-Martin and Saint-Denis) was then used to goods traffic. The 20th century saw the start of tourism and the emergence of pleasure boats on the canal. On sunny days, visitors can enjoy cruises, which depart from the Bassin de la Villette. It is recommended to book in advance.