Canal de Nantes à Brest
Encyclopedia
The Nantes-Brest canal is a French canal
which links the two cities of Nantes
and Brest
through inland Brittany
. It was built during the 19th century and its total length is 385 km with 238 locks from coast to coast. The western portion of the canal is also known as Branche Finistèrienne.
decided to build this canal to assure a safe inland link between the two largest military ports of the French Atlantic front.
Building started in 1811, and Napoleon III of France
presided over the canal's opening in 1858.
In 1923 the route of the canal was broken by the Guerledan dam. Navigation is no longer possible between Maël-Carhaix
and Pontivy
. The lake flooded the uppermost portion of the canal for some 8 km along with 17 locks.
Break at Lake Guerlédan
Total length on this current route is 337 km and 158 locks.
West to East Beginning in Brest on the canalized portion of the Aulne River
for 51 km via 8 locks.
Continuing on Aulne, now called Canal de Nantes à Brest(Ouest) (West) for 81 km via 45 locks.
Lake Guerlédan
halts the canal until Pontivy
.
Canal de Nantes à Brest(Est) (East) Pontivy
to Nantes
205 km via 105 locks
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
which links the two cities of Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
and Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
through inland Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. It was built during the 19th century and its total length is 385 km with 238 locks from coast to coast. The western portion of the canal is also known as Branche Finistèrienne.
History
The original idea of such a canal is dated from the 16th century but it's only when Brest was blockaded by the English fleet that Napoleon I of FranceNapoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
decided to build this canal to assure a safe inland link between the two largest military ports of the French Atlantic front.
Building started in 1811, and Napoleon III of France
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
presided over the canal's opening in 1858.
In 1923 the route of the canal was broken by the Guerledan dam. Navigation is no longer possible between Maël-Carhaix
Maël-Carhaix
Maël-Carhaix is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Maël-Carhaix are called in French maël-carhaisiens.-External links:* * -Images:*...
and Pontivy
Pontivy
Pontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
. The lake flooded the uppermost portion of the canal for some 8 km along with 17 locks.
En Route
The canal utilizes the following rivers, west to east:- AulneAulneThe Aulne is a 140 km long river of Brittany in north-western France, flowing down the hills and emptying into the roadstead of Brest, one of the many fjord-like bays just south of Brest. The river is part of the Canal de Nantes à Brest, the navigation canal that once connected the city of Nantes...
: ? to ? - Hyeres (river): ? to ?
Break at Lake Guerlédan
Lac de Guerlédan
Lake Guerlédan is an artificial lake in the centre of Brittany, France. It extends across the borders of the departments of Morbihan and Côtes-d'Armor, within the communes of Saint-Aignan, Morbihan and Mûr-de-Bretagne. At an elevation of 121 m, its surface area is 4 km². Lake Guerlédan is the...
- Oust: Redon to RohanRohanRohan is a realm in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy era of Middle-earth. It is a grassland which lies north of its ally Gondor and north-west of Mordor, the realm of Sauron, their enemy . It is inhabited by the Rohirrim, a people of herdsmen and farmers who are well-known for their horses and cavalry....
- VilaineVilaineThe Vilaine is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département , and flows out in the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département . It is 218 km long...
: RieuxRieux, MorbihanRieux is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-References:* * -External links:*...
to ? - Isac (river): ? to ?
- ErdreErdreThe Erdre is a river in western France, right tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Maine-et-Loire département, near La Pouëze. It flows through the départements Maine-et-Loire and Loire-Atlantique. It flows into the river Loire in the city Nantes...
: NantesNantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
to 47.39632°N 1.51011°W - LoireLoireLoire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
Total length on this current route is 337 km and 158 locks.
West to East Beginning in Brest on the canalized portion of the Aulne River
Aulne
The Aulne is a 140 km long river of Brittany in north-western France, flowing down the hills and emptying into the roadstead of Brest, one of the many fjord-like bays just south of Brest. The river is part of the Canal de Nantes à Brest, the navigation canal that once connected the city of Nantes...
for 51 km via 8 locks.
- PK 51 Roadstead of BrestRoadstead of BrestThe roadstead of Brest is a roadstead or bay located in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. The surface area is about 180 km² . The port of Brest is located on its northern edge and one of the two French naval bases...
Brest Harbor, Brest Bay - PK 32.5 AulneAulneThe Aulne is a 140 km long river of Brittany in north-western France, flowing down the hills and emptying into the roadstead of Brest, one of the many fjord-like bays just south of Brest. The river is part of the Canal de Nantes à Brest, the navigation canal that once connected the city of Nantes...
River - PK 29 LandévennecLandévennecLandévennec is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Ship graveyard:Shortly before entering the roadstead of Brest, the river Aulne forms a bend around the Île de Térénez then the pointe de Pen Forn near Landévennec, where there is 10m depth of water regardless...
- PK 0 ChâteaulinChâteaulinChâteaulin is a commune in the Finistère department in the region of Brittany in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
Continuing on Aulne, now called Canal de Nantes à Brest(Ouest) (West) for 81 km via 45 locks.
- PK 0 ChâteaulinChâteaulinChâteaulin is a commune in the Finistère department in the region of Brittany in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
- PK 43.5 Chateauneuf-du-FaouChâteauneuf-du-FaouChâteauneuf-du-Faou is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.Châteauneuf-du-Faou is located in the middle of Brittany, between Monts d'Arrée and Montagne Noire. The town is built on a hill overlooking the Canal de Nantes à Brest, which is the canalized river Aulne...
- PK 63 Maison du Canal
- PK 74 Port-de-Carhaix
- PK 81 GoarivaGoarivaGoariva is a village in the Carhaix-Plouguer commune in the Finistère department in north-western France....
Lake Guerlédan
Lac de Guerlédan
Lake Guerlédan is an artificial lake in the centre of Brittany, France. It extends across the borders of the departments of Morbihan and Côtes-d'Armor, within the communes of Saint-Aignan, Morbihan and Mûr-de-Bretagne. At an elevation of 121 m, its surface area is 4 km². Lake Guerlédan is the...
halts the canal until Pontivy
Pontivy
Pontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
.
- PK 252.4 La PitiéLa PitiéLa Pitié is a village in the commune of Mellionnec in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in north-western France. It is on the shore of Canal de Nantes à Brest between locks 146 and 147.-Photos:* * * * *...
It is 25.6 km (and 20 locks) to the dam. - PK 226.8 48.19464°N 3.01776°W It is 20 km (and 12 locks) to PontivyPontivyPontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
.
Canal de Nantes à Brest(Est) (East) Pontivy
Pontivy
Pontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
to Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
205 km via 105 locks
- PK 205.9 PontivyPontivyPontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
. Canal de Nantes à Brest meets canalized BlavetBlavetThe Blavet river flows from central Brittany and enters the Atlantic Ocean on the south coast near Lorient. The river is canalized for most of its length and is navigable for smaller craft. It is part of Brittany's canal system and became more important when the western half of that system got cut...
. - PK 191.3 Saint-GonnerySaint-GonnerySaint-Gonnery is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Saint-Gonnery are called in French Gonneriens.-References:* * -External links:* *...
begins the 5 km summit level pond - PK 182 RohanRohan, MorbihanRohan is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.It is the home to the house of Rohan, members of which included viscounts, dukes and princes and has had a prominent role in French history.-References:* *...
- PK 157.5 JosselinJosselinJosselin is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:St Meriadek is said to have founded a chapel there during the 4th century...
- PK 132 MalestroitMalestroitMalestroit is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Tourism:The canal is a delightful place to spend a little time, and you can watch the barges as they moor up near the centre of Malestroit. It is possible to hire a boat yourself to explore the waterway, and...
- PK 95 Redon
- PK 50 BlainBlain, Loire-AtlantiqueBlain is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. It is twinned with the market town of Royal Wootton Bassett, England.-See also:* Château de Blain* Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department...
- PK 42.5 La ChevalleraisLa ChevalleraisLa Chevallerais is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-See also:*Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department...
- PK 21 Left turn onto the Erdre RiverErdreThe Erdre is a river in western France, right tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Maine-et-Loire département, near La Pouëze. It flows through the départements Maine-et-Loire and Loire-Atlantique. It flows into the river Loire in the city Nantes...
at Nort-sur-ErdreNort-sur-ErdreNort-sur-Erdre is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-See also:*Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department... - PK 15 Suce-sur-ErdreSucé-sur-ErdreSucé-sur-Erdre is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.Its name comes from the Latin sulcus, meaning "furrow", and the Celtic erdam, meaning "small river"....
- PK 2 NantesNantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....