Canal latéral à la Loire

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On the western flank of Burgundy, the river Loire weaves in and out of the region. This canal tracks the river, taking traffic from the Loire into the Paris basin. It links into the Canal du Centre, Canal du Nivernais, Canal de Roanne à Digoin and Canal de Briare.

Then…

Heading from the Puisaye northwards, the Canal de Briare was the first canal to be built under the reign of Henry IV, part of an ambitious project to link the North Sea, Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The commercial success of the canal encouraged the monarch to continue expansion.

The seven locks at Rogny on the north west tip of Burgundy in the Puisaye are now dry but in their day, they were an engineering first. Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses was designed by Hugues Cosnier in 1605. These ‘steps of water’ form an imposing pyramid structure which allowed one small boat at a time to pass through. Superseded in 1880 by six more practical locks for larger boats, the original structure is being restored as a monument.

Now…

The Canal Latéral à la Loire continues southwards on the left of the river Loire.
Cruising boats can stop off at the hilltop village of Sancerre to taste the delicious white wines of the area, and head on to Nevers, Decize and Digoin where the waters of the Canal du Centre, du Nivernais and de Roanne join.

See Barge Vacations