Canal tunnel of Saint-Albin, Canal tunnel in Scey-sur-Saône-et-Saint-Albin and Ovanches, France.
The Canal Tunnel of Saint-Albin is an underground passage 681 meters long and 6.55 meters wide, allowing boats to travel through solid rock beneath the landscape. A stone towpath runs alongside the water, and a lock below the tunnel controls the water level for safe passage.
Construction started in 1843 under Napoleon III's direction and finished in 1880, following engineer Philippe Lacordaire's design. The project emerged from the need to improve river navigation for growing 19th-century inland shipping demands.
The tunnel received official recognition as a French historical monument in 1990, reflecting 19th-century engineering for water transportation. When you walk alongside the canal, you can see how carefully the stone structure was built to guide boats safely underground.
The tunnel is active and regularly accommodates recreational and tourist boats, so checking passage times beforehand is helpful. The area is best explored on foot and offers viewpoints along the canal that are easily accessible.
This construction saves boats a 7-kilometer journey by bypassing a large river bend near Traves and a weir section. Boat operators in the 1800s gained significant time savings using this shortcut through the landscape.
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