It was opened in 1792 and was the first watershed canal allowing boats to pass from the north of France to the south.

The canal was first suggested during the 16th century, under King Francis I and a detailed plan was prepared by Adam de Craponne in the time of Henry II.

He selected a route which joined the valleys of the Loire and Saône and provided adequate water supplies at the summit.

The first stone was laid in 1784 by Prince de Condé and despite the intervention of exceptional floods on the Loire in 1790, which totally wrecked a new port in Digoin, and the Revolution, the works were completed in 1792.

The canal brought new life to the Charollais and within 20 years of opening, many villages had sprung up along its banks.