Canal de Berry, Historical canal system in central France.
The Canal de Berry is a historic waterway system in central France spanning 261 kilometers and linking the Loire River at Marseilles-lès-Aubigny to Noyers. Today roughly 15 kilometers remain navigable, with five working locks between Selles-sur-Cher and Noyers-sur-Cher offering access to visitors.
Construction took place between 1809 and 1839, with Spanish prisoners of war doing much of the labor during the 1820s. The project emerged during Napoleon's period of major infrastructure investment and became vital for moving goods across the region.
The waterway once moved goods like cast iron, coal, and wine through the region, connecting distant towns economically. The route today still shows traces of this commercial past through the old locks and towpaths where local trade once flourished.
The canal is best explored on foot or by bicycle along the old towpaths that stretch across the landscape. Access is free and available year-round, though warmer months offer the most comfortable conditions for visiting.
The waterway was intentionally designed to be narrow, with vessels limited to just 2.7 meters wide to match the construction constraints. This restriction led to the creation of specialized flat-bottomed barges called 'berrichons' capable of carrying up to 60 tonnes of cargo.
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