Canal latéral à la Loire
Encyclopedia
The Canal Latéral à la Loire was constructed between 1827 and 1838 to connect the Canal de Briare at Briare
and the Canal du Centre
at Digoin
, a distance of 196 km. It replaced the use of the River Loire which had reliability problems arising from winter floods and summer droughts. Aqueduct
s were used to cross the River Allier at Le Guétin (in the commune of Cuffy
) and the River Loire at Digoin, but because of the extreme length required, one was not built to cross the Loire River at Briare
until 1896 when the Briare aqueduct
was constructed.
from the Seine
to the Saône
was substantially the same as at present, except for the use of the navigable Loire between Briare and Digoin. The introduction of steam haulage and dredging failed to produce the reliability of the canals, so it was in 1822 that the order to build was finally given to the Compagnie des Quatre Canaux. Although the original intention was to place the canal on the right bank, the towns of Nevers
, la Charité
and Cosne
had no room for a canal and eventually construction started in 1827 on a canal on the left bank. Two massive stone aqueducts were built at Digoin and at Guétin to avoid level crossings of rivers with length 243m and 470m respectively, but this was not possible at Briare because of the danger of blocking the river during flood periods.
With the adoption of the Freycinet gauge
in 1879, and the upgrading of the canal system, the frequent delays of several days to cross the Loire at Briare became intolerable and a 662m steel aqueduct was built across the Loire to connect to the Canal de Briare by Abel Mazoyer. This is part of the Canal Latéral à la Loire, not the Canal de Briare.
Briare
Briare is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.Briare, the Brivodorum of the Romans, is situated at the extremity of the Briare Canal, which unites the Loire and its lateral canal with the Loing and so with the Seine. The lateral canal of the Loire crosses the Loire near...
and the Canal du Centre
Canal du Centre
Canal du Centre may mean:*Canal du Centre *Canal du Centre...
at Digoin
Digoin
Digoin is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.The junction of the Canal du Centre and the Canal latéral à la Loire is near Digoin.-Geography:...
, a distance of 196 km. It replaced the use of the River Loire which had reliability problems arising from winter floods and summer droughts. Aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
s were used to cross the River Allier at Le Guétin (in the commune of Cuffy
Cuffy
Cuffy may refer to:* Cuffy, or Kofi, an Akan slave in the Dutch colony of Berbice who in 1763 led a revolt of more than 2,500 slaves* Cuffy, a commune of the Cher département, in France...
) and the River Loire at Digoin, but because of the extreme length required, one was not built to cross the Loire River at Briare
Briare
Briare is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.Briare, the Brivodorum of the Romans, is situated at the extremity of the Briare Canal, which unites the Loire and its lateral canal with the Loing and so with the Seine. The lateral canal of the Loire crosses the Loire near...
until 1896 when the Briare aqueduct
Briare aqueduct
The Briare Aqueduct carries the Canal latéral à la Loire over the River Loire on its journey to the River Seine in France. It replaced a river-level crossing from the canal to meet the Briare Canal that was hazardous in times of flood...
was constructed.
History
By the late 18th century with the completion of the Canal du Centre, the Bourbonnais routeBourbonnais route
The Bourbonnais route is a connection of four canals in France from Saint-Mammès on the Seine to Chalon-sur-Saône on the Saône River: It includes the Canal du Loing, Canal de Briare, Canal lateral a la Loire, and Canal du Centre.-History:...
from the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
to the Saône
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
was substantially the same as at present, except for the use of the navigable Loire between Briare and Digoin. The introduction of steam haulage and dredging failed to produce the reliability of the canals, so it was in 1822 that the order to build was finally given to the Compagnie des Quatre Canaux. Although the original intention was to place the canal on the right bank, the towns of Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
, la Charité
La Charité-sur-Loire
La Charité-sur-Loire is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-History:The town began as the first of the Cluniac priories on an island site in the Loire....
and Cosne
Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire
Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 11,399. On 1 January 2005, the estimate was 11,300.-Notable residents:* Roger Marie Bricoux cellist on the...
had no room for a canal and eventually construction started in 1827 on a canal on the left bank. Two massive stone aqueducts were built at Digoin and at Guétin to avoid level crossings of rivers with length 243m and 470m respectively, but this was not possible at Briare because of the danger of blocking the river during flood periods.
With the adoption of the Freycinet gauge
Freycinet gauge
The Freycinet gauge is a standard governing the dimensions of the locks of some canals, put in place as a result of a law passed during the tenure of Charles de Freycinet as prime minister of France, dating from 5 August 1879....
in 1879, and the upgrading of the canal system, the frequent delays of several days to cross the Loire at Briare became intolerable and a 662m steel aqueduct was built across the Loire to connect to the Canal de Briare by Abel Mazoyer. This is part of the Canal Latéral à la Loire, not the Canal de Briare.
En Route
- PK 198 BriareBriareBriare is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.Briare, the Brivodorum of the Romans, is situated at the extremity of the Briare Canal, which unites the Loire and its lateral canal with the Loing and so with the Seine. The lateral canal of the Loire crosses the Loire near...
- PK 198 Briare aqueductBriare aqueductThe Briare Aqueduct carries the Canal latéral à la Loire over the River Loire on its journey to the River Seine in France. It replaced a river-level crossing from the canal to meet the Briare Canal that was hazardous in times of flood...
- PK 192 Châtillon-sur-LoireChâtillon-sur-LoireChâtillon-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-See also:*Communes of the Loiret department...
- PK 187 left to Châtillon branch canal for access to Loire river
- PK 180 Belleville-sur-LoireBelleville-sur-LoireBelleville-sur-Loire is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A farming village with a nuclear power station situated by the banks of the river Loire, some northeast of Bourges at the junction of the D82, D951 and the D751 roads...
- PK 175 LéréLéré, CherLéré is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A farming area comprising a very small town and several hamlets situated by the banks of the Loire lateral canal in the valley of the river Loire, some northeast of Bourges, at the junction of the D951, D751 and the...
- PK 159.5 Saint-SaturSaint-SaturSaint-Satur is a commune in the Cher department in central France.It is a medieval town near the Loire River in the former province of Berry.-History:...
or Saint-ThibaultSaint-Thibault, CherSaint-Thibault is a village of the Cher département, in central France. It is a former port on the Loire River in the former province of Berry. It is part of the commune Saint-Satur.-History:... - PK 143 HerryHerryHerry is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:An area of forestry and farming, comprising the village and a dozen hamlets situated by the banks of the canal lateral a la Loire, some northeast of Bourges, at the junction of the D7, D920 and the D52 roads...
- PK 125 Marseilles-lès-AubignyMarseilles-lès-AubignyMarseilles-lès-Aubigny is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A forestry and farming area comprising the village and several hamlets situated by the banks of the rivers Aubois and Loire, some east of Bourges, at the junction of the D44 and the D81 roads...
- PK 100 NeversNeversNevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
- PK 68.5 DecizeDecizeDecize is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Site:The town is situated on a former island in the Loire at the confluent of the Aron river. The right channel of the Loire was dammed up to reclaim land and now remains as an arm stretching upstream to the centre of town...
- PK 53 Gannay-sur-LoireGannay-sur-LoireGannay-sur-Loire is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
- PK 41 Garnat-sur-EngievreGarnat-sur-EngièvreGarnat-sur-Engièvre is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
- PK 29 Dompierre-sur-BesbreDompierre-sur-BesbreDompierre-sur-Besbre is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
right canal branch to Dompierre-sur-BesbreDompierre-sur-BesbreDompierre-sur-Besbre is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*... - PK 15 CoulangesCoulanges, AllierCoulanges is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:...
- PK 4 DigoinDigoinDigoin is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.The junction of the Canal du Centre and the Canal latéral à la Loire is near Digoin.-Geography:...
- PK 0 continues as Canal du CentreCanal du CentreCanal du Centre may mean:*Canal du Centre *Canal du Centre...