Port of Angers, Former river harbour in Angers, France
Port d'Angers is a former river harbour in Angers, France, built through a canal that once connected the city to the Maine river. The canal, known as the canal de la Saulaie, was progressively widened, then eventually abandoned and replaced by a wide city boulevard.
The harbour was built in 1556 under mayor René Ayrault to support trade, fishing, and flood control along the Maine. By the 19th century, the rise of the railway made the waterway redundant, and the canal was filled in.
The Port d'Angers sits beneath the Boulevard Ayrault, named after the mayor who oversaw the construction of the canal in the 16th century. Today, the site is a walking space along the Maine where people come to feel the link between the city and the river.
The area along the Maine is easy to reach on foot and works well as part of a walk through the old neighborhoods near the river. It tends to be most welcoming in warm weather, when the riverside draws more people and activity.
The original canal entrance was protected by wooden piles to stop boats from getting stuck in the silt that built up regularly. Despite repeated dredging efforts, silting remained the main problem the harbour faced throughout its working life.
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