La Nouvelle branch
Encyclopedia
The La Nouvelle branchIt is also sometimes referred to as or . is a 37.3 kilometres (23.2 mi) lateral branch of the Canal du Midi
in Aude
, south-central France
which runs from the Canal du Midi through Narbonne
and on to the Mediterranean
. It is composed of three waterways: the first 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) is the Canal de Jonction from the Canal du Midi to the Aude
, the second section is 800 metres (2,625 ft) of the Aude itself and the third is the 31.6 kilometres (19.6 mi) Canal de la Robine which enters the Mediterranean at Port-la-Nouvelle
. The La Nouvelle branch is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
as part of the Canal du Midi and is managed by the French
navigation authority
, Voies navigables de France
.
, 13.8 kilometres (8.6 mi) by road from the city centre.
is only traversed for 800 metres (874.9 yd) between the two canals however on leaving the Canal de Jonction it is necessary to navigate upstream first before turning and coming back downstream against the opposite bank to the Canal de la Robine in order to avoid shallows caused by silt banks
in the middle of the channel.
as a lockless open cut following an abandoned course of the Aude. The northern end of the canal is at the Aude at Moussoulens
just south of Sallèles-d'Aude
from where goods were transported by land to the Canal du Midi at Le Somail
— a journey of approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi). A century later, when the Canal de Jonction was constructed, the Canal de la Robine was straightened and six single locks were built to deal with the more severe gradients, Narbonne finally had direct waterway access to the Canal du Midi.
From the Aude the canal passes through the centre of Narbonne and under the Merchants' Bridge
(fr: le pont des Marchands) which is one of the few bridges in France which is still lined with houses. From there it runs through Bages
and the Ile Sainte Lucie nature reserve before meeting the Mediterranean at Port-la-Nouvelle
.
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
in Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
, south-central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
which runs from the Canal du Midi through Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
and on to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. It is composed of three waterways: the first 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) is the Canal de Jonction from the Canal du Midi to the Aude
Aude River
The Aude River is a river of southwestern France. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains and it then runs to Carcassonne and turns, reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne...
, the second section is 800 metres (2,625 ft) of the Aude itself and the third is the 31.6 kilometres (19.6 mi) Canal de la Robine which enters the Mediterranean at Port-la-Nouvelle
Port-la-Nouvelle
Port-la-Nouvelle is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-External links:** Navigation, mooring and the canal....
. The La Nouvelle branch is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
as part of the Canal du Midi and is managed by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
navigation authority
Navigation authority
A navigation authority is a company or statutory body which is concerned with the management of a navigable canal or river.-Rights of a navigation authority:...
, Voies navigables de France
Voies navigables de France
is the French navigation authority responsible for the management of the majority of France's inland waterways network and the associated facilities—towpaths, commercial and leisure ports, lock-keeper's houses and other structures. VNF was established in 1991 and took over the responsibility for...
.
Canal de Jonction
The Canal de Jonction runs in a dead straight line and was built in 1776 to provide access to Narbonne from the Canal du Midi via the Canal de la Robine. The Canal de Jonction enters the Aude some 800 m upstream from where the Canal de la Robine leaves it. Prior to 1776 the Canal du Midi port for Narbonne was Le SomailLe Somail
Le Somail is a hamlet in the Aude department of southwestern France.Le Somail is located along the Canal du Midi. Its territory is shared by 3 communes: Ginestas, Saint-Nazaire-d'Aude and Sallèles-d'Aude....
, 13.8 kilometres (8.6 mi) by road from the city centre.
Locks on the Canal de Jonction
| Lock number | Lock name | Coordinates Geographic coordinate system A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represent vertical position, and two or three of the numbers represent horizontal position... (with links to maps and satellite images) |
Number of chambers | Distance from the Canal du Midi | Image | Elevation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km | mi | ft | m | |||||
| 1 | Cesse Lock | 43.281825°N 2.923963°E | 1 | 0.3 kilometre (0.186411820994942 mi) | 106 feet (32.3 m) | |||
| 2 | Truilhas Lock | 43.277101°N 2.929015°E | 1 | 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) | 91 feet (27.7 m) | |||
| 3 | Empare Lock | 43.272307°N 2.934109°E | 1 | 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) | 85 feet (25.9 m) | |||
| 4 | Argeliers Lock | 43.267613°N 2.939171°E | 1 | 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) | 79 feet (24.1 m) | |||
| 5 | Saint-Cyr Lock | 43.262791°N 2.944323°E | 1 | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) | 72 feet (21.9 m) | |||
| 6 | Sallèles Lock | 43.257163°N 2.949848°E | 1 | 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) | 66 feet (20.1 m) | |||
| 7 | Gailhousty Lock | 43.247839°N 2.955702°E | 1 | 4.9 kilometres (3 mi) | 50 feet (15.2 m) | |||
The Aude
The AudeAude River
The Aude River is a river of southwestern France. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains and it then runs to Carcassonne and turns, reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne...
is only traversed for 800 metres (874.9 yd) between the two canals however on leaving the Canal de Jonction it is necessary to navigate upstream first before turning and coming back downstream against the opposite bank to the Canal de la Robine in order to avoid shallows caused by silt banks
Shoal
Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...
in the middle of the channel.
Canal de la Robine
Following its opening in 1681, the commercial success of the Canal du Midi was such that Narbonne traders demanded improved access to it, so in 1686 the Canal de la Robine was constructed by VaubanVauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban , commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them...
as a lockless open cut following an abandoned course of the Aude. The northern end of the canal is at the Aude at Moussoulens
Moussoulens
Moussoulens is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:...
just south of Sallèles-d'Aude
Sallèles-d'Aude
Sallèles-d'Aude is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. The Canal de Jonction, part of the La Nouvelle branch of the Canal du Midi, runs through the middle of the town.-Population:-See also:*Communes of the Aude department*Le Somail*...
from where goods were transported by land to the Canal du Midi at Le Somail
Le Somail
Le Somail is a hamlet in the Aude department of southwestern France.Le Somail is located along the Canal du Midi. Its territory is shared by 3 communes: Ginestas, Saint-Nazaire-d'Aude and Sallèles-d'Aude....
— a journey of approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi). A century later, when the Canal de Jonction was constructed, the Canal de la Robine was straightened and six single locks were built to deal with the more severe gradients, Narbonne finally had direct waterway access to the Canal du Midi.
From the Aude the canal passes through the centre of Narbonne and under the Merchants' Bridge
Pont des Marchands (Narbonne)
The Pont des Marchands is a historic bridge in Narbonne, southern France. It serves as a foundation for a row of houses and shops underneath which the Canal de la Robine runs through the old town. Its segmental arch has a span of ca. 15 m...
(fr: le pont des Marchands) which is one of the few bridges in France which is still lined with houses. From there it runs through Bages
Bages, Aude
Bages is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:...
and the Ile Sainte Lucie nature reserve before meeting the Mediterranean at Port-la-Nouvelle
Port-la-Nouvelle
Port-la-Nouvelle is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-External links:** Navigation, mooring and the canal....
.
Locks on the Canal de la Robine
| Lock number | Lock name | Coordinates Geographic coordinate system A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represent vertical position, and two or three of the numbers represent horizontal position... (with links to maps and satellite images) |
Number of chambers | Distance from the Canal du Midi | Image | Elevation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km | mi | ft | m | |||||
| 8 | Moussoulens Lock | 43.244865°N 2.960728°E | 1 | 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi) | 44 feet (13.4 m) | |||
| 9 | Raonel Lock | 43.228013°N 3.003509°E | 1 | 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) | 26 feet (7.9 m) | |||
| 10 | Gua Lock | 43.191271°N 3.001063°E | 1 | 14.2 kilometres (8.8 mi) | 30 feet (9.1 m) | |||
| 11 | Narbonne Lock | 43.184116°N 3.001693°E | 1 | 15.3 kilometres (9.5 mi) | 24 feet (7.3 m) | |||
| 12 | Mandirac Lock | 43.122056°N 3.030913°E | 1 | 24.1 kilometres (15 mi) | 13 feet (4 m) | |||
| 13 | Sainte-Lucie Lock | 43.047141°N 3.055856°E | 1 | 34.3 kilometres (21.3 mi) | 9 feet (2.7 m) | |||
See also
- Locks on the Canal du MidiLocks on the Canal du MidiThere are 91 working locks on the Canal du Midi along its course from the Bassin du Thau on the Mediterranean coast to the junction with the Canal lateral a la Garonne in Toulouse. There are a further 13 locks on the La Nouvelle branch which runs through Narbonne to the Mediterranean at...
- Navigation guide Places, ports and moorings on the embranchement.