Canal d'Ille-et-Rance

The Canal d'Ille-et-Rance extends for 79 kilometers through northwestern France, connecting the city of Dinan to Rennes along the Vilaine river.

Construction of the waterway began in 1804 under Napoleon's directives, and after several interruptions, a private company completed the project with an official opening in 1832.

The canal features 47 locks and numerous lock houses built in the Napoleonic period, characterized by four-sided roofs and granite frames.

Navigation rules require maintaining speeds of 6 kilometers per hour, and lock passages need human intervention according to specific schedules throughout the canal system.

The waterway reaches an elevation of 65 meters at its summit level, incorporating a 7-kilometer stretch that connects the English Channel to the Atlantic Ocean.

Location: Brittany

Inception: 1804

Official opening: October 5, 1832

Elevation above the sea: 0 m

GPS coordinates: 48.49140,-2.00200

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:39