The canal rises 40m through 16 locks via the cathedral city of Reims, which is also a busy commercial port, to a summit level at an altitude of 95.70m.

After crossing the watershed through a tunnel 2302m long at Mont-de-Billy, the canal drops down 23.80m through a flight of 8 locks towards the Marne.

It was later planned to implement Cosnier’s idea of an orbital route from the Loire through to northern France.

Only the north-south section was built, comprising this link and the Canal de l’Oise à l’Aisne.

[1] In the 1990s it was envisaged to rebuild the canal to European Class IV or V dimensions to an enlarged port in Reims.