Aisne Canals

Information about 126km of canals, from Picardy south-east to Champagne:

• the 48km of the Canal de l’Oise a l’Aisne from Abbecourt to Bourg-et-Comin
• the 20km of the Canal lateral a l’Aisne from Bourg-et-Comin to Berry-au-Bac
• the 58km of the Canal de l’Aisne a la Marne from Berry-au-Bac, via Reims, to Conde-sur-Marne on the Canal lateral a la Marne.

The Oise-Aisne canal is very attractive, almost entirely rural , deep in the countryside away from towns and even villages. It ascends slowly to a plateau, then through the Braye-en-Laonnois tunnel and then fairly quickly descends to Bourg-et-Comin. The following section of the Aisne lateral canal is also very rural, level and with just one lock outside Berry-au-Bac. Finally, the Aisne-Marne is pleasant but perhaps not outstanding, although Reims itself is a notable event, with another tunnel shortly before Conde-sur-Marne. The route does carry an amount of commercial traffic, which as always, takes priority at ecluses. See also general notes (foot of page).

Basic Information

• Approximate TE minimum depth 1.8m, TA headroom 3.5m, width 5m. These are the minima across the three canals. These are the ‘book’ values that may vary according to season and circumstances, but in general terms these values (principally available depth) can be thought reasonably reliable.
• There are (13+1+24) 38 ecluses (locks) along this route. There is one tunnel of 2.3km length (Oise-Aisne) and another of 2.3km (Aise-Marne).
• VNF contact telephone numbers – 03 24 38 44 10 (Rethel/Oise), 03 44 83 85 00 (Compiegne/lateral), 03 26 65 17 41 (Chalons/Marne)
• Using a pilot-guide book is strongly recommended: Breil Guides or Fluviacarte (Navicarte) Guides.

PK0 Abbecourt – Canal de l’Oise a l’Aisne

Junction with the Canal lateral a l’Oise. Followed by a an easy sequence of 9 locks ascending to Pargny-Filan.

PK35 – Pargny-Filain

Small village Halte on pontoons, water – 03 23 21 68 59. Near the Lac de Monampteuil bathing and water sports lake – with beach.

PK38 Braye-en-Laonnois Tunnel – 2.3km

Illuminated and controlled by lights. Followed by a close sequence of 4 locks descending to Bourg-et-Comin, including a pont-canal over the River Aisne (photo below). The location is close to the Chemin des Dames ridge where there were 430,000 French and German casualties (dead, wounded, unknown) during the second Battle of the Aisne in 1917.

PK48 Bourg-et-Comin – PK39 Canal lateral a l’Aisne

Mooring pontoon of limited size with water and electricity at the T-junction – 03 23 25 15 00 – a short walk up to the village over the river. Turn right (west) to Conde-sur-Aise, the River Aisne and Compiegne on the River Oise. Turn left (east) to continue this Aisne route onto the Canal lateral a l’Aisne towards Berry-au-Bac.

PK19 Berry-au-Bac – PK0 Canal de l’Aisne a la Marne

Quaysides (commercial peniche moorings). Continue east along the canal to the Canal des Ardennes. Turn right (south) onto the Canal de l’Aisne a la Marne

PK23 Reims

PdP 03 26 88 55 36, water, electricity and services. Reims cathedral is spectacular and the city contains all necessary facilities, but it is dominated by traffic and this is unfortunately also true of the PdP itself, which can be very noisy.

PK34 Sillery

Good location and Port de Plaisance 03 26 49 17 86. Water, electricity and services. Fuel.

PK45 Billy-le-Grand Tunnel – 2.3km

Controlled by lights, lit.

PK58 Conde-sur-Marne – Canal lateral a la Marne

Pontoon moorings with water and electricity 03 26 67 98 77. Junction with the Canal lateral a la Marne. Left (south-east) to Chalons-en-Champagne and south to the River Saone. Right (north-west) to Epernay and Paris.