Roanne-Digoin Canal

Canal de Roanne à Digoin
Specifications
Length	55.6 km (34.5 mi)
Locks	10
History
Current owner	Voies Navigables de France
Date approved	1827
Construction began	1831
Date completed	1838
Geography
Start point	Digoin
End point	Roanne
Connects to	Canal latéral à la Loire and Canal du Centre

The Canal de Roanne à Digoin (French pronunciation: [kanal də ʁɔan a diɡwɛ̃]) connects the Canal latéral à la Loire and Canal du Centre at Digoin to Roanne.

Location of the Canal de Roanne à Digoin in relation to Canal lateral à la Loire and Canal du Centre

History

This canal was needed to bypass the Loire, which offered inadequate navigable conditions, at the same time serving as a feeder to the Canal latéral à la Loire. The canal was conceded to the Compagnie Franco-Suisse, founded in 1827, and designed by engineer De Varaigne. Works started in 1831 and the canal was inaugurated in 1838. Modernisation to Freycinet standards was designed by engineer Léonce-Abel Mazoyer after the State bought back the canal from the concessionary in 1863. The canal was upgraded to Freycinet standard between 1891 and 1899. The water supply dam and reservoir was completed in 1905

Development

The canal is now used only by private boats and some hire boats. Its development as a tourist asset for the region is actively promoted by the Association "Le Canal de Roanne à Digoin" set up in 2011.

See also

• List of canals in France

External links

• Projet Babel included in the references above; presentation of all French waterways ever built, by Charles Berg; history and current issues
• Canal de Roanne à Digoin navigation guide; places, ports and moorings on the canal, by the author of Inland Waterways of France, Imray
• Navigation details for 80 French rivers and canals (French waterways website section)