Canal du Nivernais
Encyclopedia
The Canal du Nivernais links the Loire basin with the Seine
basin following approximately the course of the river Yonne
in a south to north direction.
Beginning in the village of Saint-Léger-des-Vignes
, the canal traverses the department of the Nièvre
reaching its half-way point at the town of Clamecy
and finishes in the town of Auxerre
, situated on the River Yonne.
. It is fed at its summit at Port Brulé by a feeder canal from the Pannecière reservoir
for which was notably constructed an elegant aqueduct
at Montreuillon
. In its northerly course it is regularly fed by the Yonne
and southwards by the Aron
. The summit canal pound
also comprises three tunnels. Although the feeder canal arrives at Port Brulé, the top of the canal is generally considered to be at Baye at the southern end of the tunnels.
national park to Paris, via Clamecy and Auxerre. However, in reality, the canal was quickly established as an important communication
route which contributed significantly to the economic development
of the Nièvre, particularly the area known as the 'Valleys of the Yonne' of which the small town of Clamecy is the capital. The canal du Nivernais importance in this respect, faded with the arrival of the railway in the 19th century.
, Vermenton
on the short side-canal, Châtel-Censoir
, Coulanges-sur-Yonne
, Tannay
, Marigny-sur-Yonne
, Corbigny
, Baye, Châtillon-en-Bazois
and Decize
.
Auxerre
after which, the canal winds south through the department
of the Yonne
countryside past a number of small, picturesque
villages and hamlets, departing from and rejoining the river Yonne on this
ascending leg. Notable villages include Bailly
with its famous wine cellars situated in caves, Vincelles
and the nearby wine village of Irancy
, Cravant
,
Mailly-la-Ville
, Mailly-le-Château
, Châtel-Censoir
and
Coulanges-sur-Yonne
. Amongst the most spectacular sites are the
Rochers du Saussois
(photo), a series of 50
metre-high limestone cliffs beside the river. Shortly after Coulanges,
the canal leaves the department of the Yonne and enters the department
of the Nièvre. At roughly the half-way point, the canal passes through
a landscape of limestone
outcrops and undulating farmland until
arriving at the medieval town of Clamecy
. The
Romain Rolland
Museum in Clamecy houses a permanent exhibition
dedicated to the former industrial and communicatory importance of the
canal. Those interested in the history of the canal will be able to
visit the now unused parts which were replaced by a stretch of the
river.
After Clamecy boats cease to navigate on the Yonne and it is canal only
until the summit.
The Canal continues to rise, passing through the countryside of the
valleys of the Yonne, through more villages and hamlets including
Corbigny
, the only major town for some distance, the last 12
kilometres featuring 28 locks including the 16 comprising the "échelle
de Sardy" which lead to the summit at Baye
, then
Châtillon-en-Bazois
with its 'chateau' overlooking the port and
Cercy-la-Tour
and its giant 'Madonna' statue, the last
significantly sized town before the canal ends at
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes
adjacent to Decize
.
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...
basin following approximately the course of the river Yonne
Yonne River
The Yonne is a river in France, left tributary of the Seine. It is 292 km long. The river gives its name to the Yonne département. Its source is in the Nièvre département, in the Morvan hills near Château-Chinon...
in a south to north direction.
Beginning in the village of Saint-Léger-des-Vignes
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-References:*...
, the canal traverses the department of the Nièvre
Nièvre
Nièvre is a department in the centre of France named after the Nièvre River.-History:Nièvre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
reaching its half-way point at the town of Clamecy
Clamecy, Nièvre
Clamecy is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.Clamecy is the capital of an arrondissement in the department of Nièvre, at the confluence of the Yonne and Beuvron and on the Canal du Nivernais, 46 m. N.N.E...
and finishes in the town of Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
, situated on the River Yonne.
Statistics
The canal is 180 km (111.8 mi) long and comprises 110 locksLock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
. It is fed at its summit at Port Brulé by a feeder canal from the Pannecière reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
for which was notably constructed an elegant 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....
at Montreuillon
Montreuillon
Montreuillon is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 308. On 1 January 2007, the estimate was 311.-Canal du Nivernais:...
. In its northerly course it is regularly fed by the Yonne
Yonne River
The Yonne is a river in France, left tributary of the Seine. It is 292 km long. The river gives its name to the Yonne département. Its source is in the Nièvre département, in the Morvan hills near Château-Chinon...
and southwards by the Aron
Aron
-Characters:* Aron , a character from the comic Aron! HyperSpace Boy!* Aron , a character from the Marvel Universe* Aron , a creature in the Pokémon video game series...
. The summit canal pound
Canal pound
A canal pound, aka reach, is the stretch of level water impounded between two canal locks. Canal pounds can vary in length from the non-existent, where two or more immediately adjacent locks form a lock staircase, to many miles....
also comprises three tunnels. Although the feeder canal arrives at Port Brulé, the top of the canal is generally considered to be at Baye at the southern end of the tunnels.
History
Construction of the canal began in 1784, initially to aid the 'flottage' (floating) of timber from the forests of the MorvanMorvan
The Morvan is a mountainous massif lying just to the west of the Côte d'Or escarpment in Burgundy, France. It is a northerly extension of the Massif Central and is of Variscan age. It is composed of granites and basalts and formed a promontory extending northwards into the Jurassic sea.-Music:The...
national park to Paris, via Clamecy and Auxerre. However, in reality, the canal was quickly established as an important communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
route which contributed significantly to the economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
of the Nièvre, particularly the area known as the 'Valleys of the Yonne' of which the small town of Clamecy is the capital. The canal du Nivernais importance in this respect, faded with the arrival of the railway in the 19th century.
Leisure and tourism
Today, the canal is exclusively reserved for navigation by leisure craft. A number of Boat Hire companies have departure bases situated on the canal at AuxerreAuxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
, Vermenton
Vermenton
Vermenton is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.The remains of the former Cistercian Reigny Abbey are situated here....
on the short side-canal, Châtel-Censoir
Châtel-Censoir
Châtel-Censoir is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
, Coulanges-sur-Yonne
Coulanges-sur-Yonne
Coulanges-sur-Yonne is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
, Tannay
Tannay, Nièvre
Tannay is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-References:*...
, Marigny-sur-Yonne
Marigny-sur-Yonne
Marigny-sur-Yonne is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 198. On 1 January 2005, the estimate was 205.-References:*...
, Corbigny
Corbigny
Corbigny is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.The city is located next to the Morvan and is one of the five Cities-Doors of Parc naturel régional du Morvan.-History:...
, Baye, Châtillon-en-Bazois
Châtillon-en-Bazois
Châtillon-en-Bazois is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 1056. On 1 January 2007, the estimate was 975.-References:*...
and Decize
Decize
Decize 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...
.
Sights
The majority of tourists begin their cruise at the historic city ofAuxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
after which, the canal winds south through the department
of the Yonne
Yonne
Yonne is a French department named after the Yonne River. It is one of the four constituent departments of Burgundy in eastern France and its prefecture is Auxerre. Its official number is 89....
countryside past a number of small, picturesque
villages and hamlets, departing from and rejoining the river Yonne on this
ascending leg. Notable villages include Bailly
Bailly
Bailly may refer to:* Jean Sylvain Bailly , French astronomer and orator, one of the leaders of the early part of the French Revolution* Joseph Bailly , French-Canadian fur trader and pioneer...
with its famous wine cellars situated in caves, Vincelles
Vincelles
Vincelles may refer to:*Vincelles, Jura, a commune in the French region of Franche-Comté*Vincelles, Marne, a commune in the French region of Champagne-Ardennes*Vincelles, Saône-et-Loire, a commune in the French region of Bourgogne...
and the nearby wine village of Irancy
Irancy
Irancy is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France. It is located southwest of Chablis in the northernmost part of Burgundy.-Irancy wines:...
, Cravant
Cravant
Cravant is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Cravant, Loiret* Cravant, Yonne, site of the Battle of Cravant * Cravant-les-Côteaux, in the Indre-et-Loire département...
,
Mailly-la-Ville
Mailly-la-Ville
Mailly-la-Ville is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
, Mailly-le-Château
Mailly-le-Château
Mailly-le-Château is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
, Châtel-Censoir
Châtel-Censoir
Châtel-Censoir is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
and
Coulanges-sur-Yonne
Coulanges-sur-Yonne
Coulanges-sur-Yonne is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
. Amongst the most spectacular sites are the
Rochers du Saussois
Merry-sur-Yonne
Merry-sur-Yonne is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-Les Rochers du Saussois:The Rochers du Saussois are a group of limestone cliffs situated on the right bank of the Yonne opposite and within the commune of Merry-sur-Yonne. They are a favourite location for...
(photo), a series of 50
metre-high limestone cliffs beside the river. Shortly after Coulanges,
the canal leaves the department of the Yonne and enters the department
of the Nièvre. At roughly the half-way point, the canal passes through
a landscape of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
outcrops and undulating farmland until
arriving at the medieval town of Clamecy
Clamecy, Nièvre
Clamecy is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.Clamecy is the capital of an arrondissement in the department of Nièvre, at the confluence of the Yonne and Beuvron and on the Canal du Nivernais, 46 m. N.N.E...
. The
Romain Rolland
Romain Rolland
Romain Rolland was a French dramatist, novelist, essayist, art historian and mystic who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915.-Biography:...
Museum in Clamecy houses a permanent exhibition
dedicated to the former industrial and communicatory importance of the
canal. Those interested in the history of the canal will be able to
visit the now unused parts which were replaced by a stretch of the
river.
After Clamecy boats cease to navigate on the Yonne and it is canal only
until the summit.
The Canal continues to rise, passing through the countryside of the
valleys of the Yonne, through more villages and hamlets including
Corbigny
Corbigny
Corbigny is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.The city is located next to the Morvan and is one of the five Cities-Doors of Parc naturel régional du Morvan.-History:...
, the only major town for some distance, the last 12
kilometres featuring 28 locks including the 16 comprising the "échelle
de Sardy" which lead to the summit at Baye
Baye
Baye may refer to:* Baye, Finistère, France* Baye, Marne, France*Baye, Kayes, Mali*Baye, Mopti, MaliPeople named Baye:* Baye Djiby Fall , Senegalese football striker* Michael Baye , American academic...
, then
Châtillon-en-Bazois
Châtillon-en-Bazois
Châtillon-en-Bazois is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 1056. On 1 January 2007, the estimate was 975.-References:*...
with its 'chateau' overlooking the port and
Cercy-la-Tour
Cercy-la-Tour
Cercy-la-Tour is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Geography:The village is located in the middle of the commune, where the river Alène joins the Aron.-Demographics:...
and its giant 'Madonna' statue, the last
significantly sized town before the canal ends at
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes
Saint-Léger-des-Vignes is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-References:*...
adjacent to Decize
Decize
Decize 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...
.
See also
- Transport in FranceTransport in FranceTransportation in France relies on one of the densest networks in the world with 146 km of road and 6.2 km of rail lines per 100 km2...
- List of rivers of France
- List of waterways in France