Canal de Saint-Quentin
Encyclopedia
The Canal de Saint-Quentin is a canal in northern France connecting the canalised Escaut River in Cambrai
to the Canal latéral à l'Oise
and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne
in Chauny
and Mazarin had both proposed linking the River Oise and the Somme in the 17th century and this resulted in the Canal Crozat, or Canal de Picardie, between Chauny
and Saint-Simon
in 1738. The remainder, connecting the Seine Basin with the Escaut
was a lengthy process. The original designer, Devicq in 1727, died in 1742. Little was accomplished until Napoléon demanded that work begin again in 1801. He officiated at the opening in April 1810.
The canal was such a success that traffic levels required the need to build duplicate locks, deepen the channel, enlarge the tunnels, and increase water supplies. Improvements in the 20th century included electric barge traction on rails, installed during World War I
, mechanizing locks, and lighting the heavier traveled sections. Later, the locks were operated automatically, using radar. By 1878, up to 110 barges were crossing the summit daily. The Canal du Nord
was built as a duplicate path and completed in 1965. The canal carried more freight than any other man-made waterway in France in 1964.
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
to the Canal latéral à l'Oise
Canal latéral à l'Oise
The Canal latéral à l'Oise is a canal in northern France that, along with the River Oise, connects the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Chauny to the Seine at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine....
and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne
Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne
The Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne is a summit level canal in northern France about 100km NNE of Paris. It connects the Canal latéral à l'Aisne at Abbécourt to the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Bourg-et-Comin...
in Chauny
Chauny
Chauny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day...
History
Canal construction was accomplished in two phases, the second much longer than the first. The kings ministers ColbertJean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
and Mazarin had both proposed linking the River Oise and the Somme in the 17th century and this resulted in the Canal Crozat, or Canal de Picardie, between Chauny
Chauny
Chauny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day...
and Saint-Simon
Saint-Simon, Aisne
Saint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
in 1738. The remainder, connecting the Seine Basin with the Escaut
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
was a lengthy process. The original designer, Devicq in 1727, died in 1742. Little was accomplished until Napoléon demanded that work begin again in 1801. He officiated at the opening in April 1810.
The canal was such a success that traffic levels required the need to build duplicate locks, deepen the channel, enlarge the tunnels, and increase water supplies. Improvements in the 20th century included electric barge traction on rails, installed during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, mechanizing locks, and lighting the heavier traveled sections. Later, the locks were operated automatically, using radar. By 1878, up to 110 barges were crossing the summit daily. The Canal du Nord
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-mining companies in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, developed the canal to help French coal...
was built as a duplicate path and completed in 1965. The canal carried more freight than any other man-made waterway in France in 1964.
En route
- PKPoint kilométriquePoint kilométrique is a French acronym used to measure distances for boundary mileage used mainly in France, on railways, highways, canals, and freeways to help locate a specific location. For example, locations on the Canal du Midi are marked in PK values....
0 CambraiCambraiCambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included... - PK 11 MasnièresMasnières-References:*...
- PK 18 Les Rues-des-VignesLes Rues-des-VignesLes Rues-des-Vignes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.Vinchy was the site of a famous battle of the then-rising Charles Martel in spring 717.-References:*...
- PK 23 Honnecourt-sur-EscautHonnecourt-sur-EscautHonnecourt-sur-Escaut is a communes in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
- PK 28.5-35 Riqueval tunnel (5670m) BonyBony, AisneBony is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
- PK 42-43 Tronquoy tunnel (1098m) LesdinsLesdinsLesdins is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
- PK 53 St-QuentinSaint-Quentin, AisneSaint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
- PK 62 Seraucourt-le-GrandSeraucourt-le-GrandSeraucourt-le-Grand is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
- PK 68 Right Petite Somme: St-Simon to Ham. Closed 2006 Left continues Link to Canal de la SommeCanal de la SommeThe Canal de la Somme is a canal in northern France. Until 2005, it joined the English Channel at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to the Canal de Saint-Quentin at St. Simon. The Somme River was canalized beginning in 1770. The 54 km section from St...
- PK 80.5 Voyaux
- PK 83 TergnierTergnierTergnier is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
- PK 85 T-junction left 3.8km branch Canal de Saint-Quentin to Canal de la Sambre à l'Oise Right continues as Canal de Saint-Quentin.
- PK 92 ChaunyChaunyChauny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day...
, the canal continues as Canal latéral à l'OiseCanal latéral à l'OiseThe Canal latéral à l'Oise is a canal in northern France that, along with the River Oise, connects the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Chauny to the Seine at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine....
towards ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Left Canal de l'Oise à l'AisneCanal de l'Oise à l'AisneThe Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne is a summit level canal in northern France about 100km NNE of Paris. It connects the Canal latéral à l'Aisne at Abbécourt to the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Bourg-et-Comin...