Briare Canal

It was the first summit level canal in Europe that was built using pound locks, connecting the Rhone-Saône and Seine valleys.

It is 57 kilometres (35 miles) long and is part of the Bourbonnais route from Saint-Mammès on the Seine to Chalon-sur-Saône on the Saône.

Hugues Cosnier obtained the contract to build the second canal crossing a watershed in Europe, involving many more locks than on the first.

In 1638, Guillaume Boutheroue and Jacques Guyon applied to resume work, and received letters patent from Louis XIII for this purpose.

They created with other nobles the Compagnie des seigneurs du canal de Loyre en Seine and work was completed by 1642.

Briare canal in Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses . The old seven lock staircase is in the background
Canal du Briare location
Location of Canal de Briare in relation to the other waterways of central France (from European Waterways Map and Directory, 5th ed., 2014, by David Edwards-May, publ. Transmanche)