Mantelot

The Mantelot lock is a historical lock structure on the Loire River's lateral canal in Châtillon-sur-Loire, connecting the main river to its bypass channel through stone walls, brick structures, and large wooden gates. The facility still displays its original 19th-century construction methods and engineering features.

The lock was built in 1838 to allow boats to travel between the Loire and its lateral canal before the 1896 construction of the Briare aqueduct made the system obsolete. This structure marked a key transition point in the region's river navigation development.

The lock keeper's house has been transformed into a restaurant called Relais de Mantelot, preserving the maritime heritage of the region.

The site is open year-round with free access and offers parking, bicycle rentals, and picnic areas for visitors. A restaurant on the grounds provides refreshments during an extended visit to this historical location.

Two parallel dikes stretching roughly one kilometer along the riverbed created a navigation channel allowing boats to cross between the banks. This engineering solution remains visible and shows how earlier generations overcame natural obstacles.