Briare aqueduct, Navigable aqueduct in Briare, France
The Briare Aqueduct extends 662 meters across the Loire River, carrying boats through a steel channel that measures 6 meters wide and 2.2 meters deep.
The structure, completed in 1896 by engineer Léonce-Abel Mazoyer, remained the longest navigable aqueduct globally until the Magdeburg Water Bridge surpassed it in 2003.
The aqueduct features fourteen masonry piers and decorative columns at each end that mirror the architectural elements of the Pont Alexandre III in Paris.
Eight integrated sluices allow maintenance crews to drain the water during freezing conditions, ensuring the preservation of the steel structure throughout winter months.
The steel channel contains 13,000 tonnes of water, supported by a system that combines engineering precision with architectural refinement to enable continuous river navigation.
Location: Briare
Location: Saint-Firmin-sur-Loire
Architects: Léonce-Abel Mazoyer
Official opening: 1896
Height: 9 m
Length: 662 m
Address: Briare Canal, France
GPS coordinates: 47.63193,2.73692
Latest update: May 27, 2025 07:09
The Centre-Val de Loire showcases a diverse heritage, from medieval fortresses like Château de Lavardin to Renaissance structures. The region features protected natural sites such as the Chérine Nature Reserve and the Domaine du Ciran, which host hundreds of bird species in their ponds and woodlands. The Savonnières Pétrifiantes Caves illustrate local geological phenomena, while the Briare Canal Bridge demonstrates 19th-century engineering. This selection also includes historical and cultural sites, from the Dunois Mill preserving 17th-century mechanisms to the Marcel Proust Museum housed in an authentic residence. The Picassiette House in Chartres exhibits Raymond Isidore's unique work over several decades. The Parc Floral de la Source and the Saint-Ours Collegiate complete this exploration combining Gothic religious architecture with themed gardens, providing diverse discoveries accessible to visitors.
The bodies of water in Centre-Val de Loire include natural lakes, ponds, and artificial reservoirs. The region features Lake Éguzon for water sports, the Brenne ponds forming a mosaic of 2000 water bodies, and recreational bases like Lake Bretonnières. These sites offer opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and bird watching. The Briare Canal and Loire River also run through the region. The Sologne ponds and Orléans forest ponds are natural areas with beaches and trails.
Briare Canal
956 m
Château de Gien
9.8 km
Château de Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire
4.6 km
Vieux pont de Gien
9.7 km
Château de Pont-Chevron
6.9 km
Église Saint-Étienne de Briare
182 m
Pont de Châtillon-sur-Loire
4.2 km
Castle of Trousse-Barrière
1.3 km
Castle of Courcelles-le-Roy
8.9 km
Musée de la mosaïque et des émaux de Briare
1.3 km
Viaduc de Briare
2.4 km
Nouveau pont de Gien
8.7 km
Musée de la chasse, histoire et nature en Val de Loire
9.9 km
Mantelot
5 km
Musée des deux marines et du pont-canal de Briare
1.1 km
Port de Briare
817 m
Building of the Savings Bank of Gien
9.8 km
Église Saint-Martin d'Ouzouer-sur-Trézée
7 km
Monument à Jean-Félix Bapterosses
723 m
Les Bateaux Touristiques
299 m
Monument à Frédéric Bapterosses
1.5 km
Île d'Ousson
5.8 km
Église Saint-Firmin de Saint-Firmin-sur-Loire
725 m
Église Saint-Martin de Saint-Martin-sur-Ocre
6.6 km
Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Brice de Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire
4.3 km
Église Saint-Maurice-et-Saint-Posen de Châtillon-sur-Loire
4.8 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Arrabloy
8.2 km
Manoir de Jean d'Arrabloy
8.2 kmReviews
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