Bourbonnais route

The first section of the route, the Canal de Briare was completed in 1642.

It was the first summit level canal using pound locks in Europe.

[2] Though not part of this route today, the Canal d'Orléans was started in 1682 to connect Orléans, on the Loing River, to the northern terminus of the Canal de Briare.

It is largely a lateral canal, using only two portions of the actual river.

[2] In 1792, the Canal du Centre connected the Loire in Digoin to the Saône at Chalon-sur-Saône.