Summary

Information about the 49km long Canal du Loing

Loing location France Map

The Canal du Loing, one of the series of waterways forming the ‘Bourbonnais’ route from Paris to Lyon, connects with the Canal de Briare below Buges lock, north of Montargis, and runs down the Loing valley (using the bed of the river at two places) to enter the Seine at Saint-Mammès, a distance of 49km.Loing location France Region Map

History – With the canals from Briare and Orléans completed respectively in 1641 and 1693, merchants started complaining about the poor navigability of the river Loing. The Duc d’Orléans ordered a survey and designs for the navigation as built – part-river and part-canal – were submitted to Royal assent and approved in 1720. Work started immediately, and the canal was completed in 1723, with some improvements made the following year. The first lock, Cepoy, dates from 1680 since it was part of the Canal d’Orléans. Modernisation to Freycinet dimensions was completed in the late 19th century.

 

Essentials


Key Waterway Dimensions

  • Max Beam: 5.20m
  • Max Height: 3.50m
  • Max Draught: 1.80m

Navigation

Locks – There are 18 locks, with uniform dimensions of 39.10 by 5.20m, plus a flood lock at Fromonville (No 13), which is normally open. The original lock 20 at Saint-Mammès was taken out of service and the adjacent weir demolished when Champagne weir and locks were built on the Upper Seine.

Draught – The maximum authorised draught is 1.80m.

Headroom – All bridges leave a minimum headroom of 3.50m above the normal water level.

Towpath – There is a good towpath throughout, with the exception of the sections through Montargis, Nemours and Saint-Mammès.

Traffic – This canal still carries some freight as the main route south from the Seine basin to the Saône. Traffic has declined, but the canal remains open all year round to accommodate commercial barges moving to and from the Saône.

Authority 
VNF – Direction interrégionale du Centre-Est
– 14, bld des belles manières, 45200 Montargis (PK 0-18).

Details+Map

Click to enlarge

Loing location France Waterway Map

Route description, north to south

PK 49.4    Saint-Mammès, confluence with Seine, quays both banks, usually occupied by residential barges and commercial craft awaiting cargo (pontoon moorings on Seine l/b 450m u/s of confluence)
PK 49.1    Boatyard and slipway, l/b
PK 48.4    Railway viaduct
PK 47.7    Lock 19 (Moret), bridge, pontoon moorings u/s l/b, abandoned commercial quay r/b, navigation enters lock-cut r/b (river Loing navigable u/s 400m for moorings close to town centre)
PK 46.9    Lock 18 (Bourgogne), automated, bridge (D302), Moret-sur-Loing town centre 600m
PK 46.6    Aqueduct crosses canal
PK 46.4    Road bridge (D606, Moret-sur-Loing bypass)
PK 45.6    Quays r/b, no services
PK 44.8    Écuelles r/b
PK 44.1    Lock 17 (Ecuelles), bridge
PK 41.8    Quay l/b
PK 41.2    Lock 16 (Épisy), bridge, quay u/s l/b, village, restaurant r/b
PK 40.9    Private quay l/b
PK 39.6    Quay (Launay) r/b
PK 38.7    Lock 15 (Berville)
PK 38.1    La Genevraye bridge, quay d/s l/b, village r/b
PK 36.4    Lock 14 (Bordes)
PK 34.7    Montcourt-Fromonville bridge, village r/b, quay d/s r/b
PK 32.6    Flood lock 13 (Fromonville), footbridge, navigation enters river Loing
PK 31.7    Motorway bridge (A6 Paris-Lyon)
PK 30.8    Bridge (Hochart), D240, Nemours bypass
PK 30.7    Private commercial quays l/b, private long-term moorings r/b
PK 30.2    Navigation leaves river Loing, entering canal l/b, moorings for smaller boats in river u/s through bridge

Attractive alternative moorings for Nemours on the river, for small boats only.

PK 30.1    Lock 12 (Buttes), bridge
PK 29.8    Nemours commercial quay l/b, no services
PK 29.4    Bridge (Paris)
PK 28.8    Nemours bridge (Récollets), town centre r/b

Quayside moorings with water and electricity along the narrow curved route around the town, but there may be little space.

PK 28.2    Quay (Fontaines), l/b
PK 27.4    Lock 11 (Chaintreauville), bridge
PK 26.0    Quay (Fromonceau) l/b
PK 25.7    Lock 10 (Bagneaux), bridge
PK 25.2    Quay for Pyrex factory, l/b
PK 24.4    Bagneaux-sur-Loing bridge, village 600m l/b
PK 22.4    Bridge (Glandelles), quay d/s l/b
PK 21.3    Lock 9 (Beaumoulin), bridge, quay d/s l/b
PK 20.7    Railway bridge
PK 20.4    Turning basin r/b
PK 19.1    Pipeline crossing
PK 18.8    Souppes-sur-Loing bridge, quays for 8 boats l/b, night €5, water, electricity, town 900m r/b

Comfortable halte for up to 8 boats

PK 18.3    Railway bridge
PK 17.0    Lock 8 (Egreville), bridge, basin d/s l/b, restaurant, shops
PK 15.9    Lock 7 (Néronville), bridge, water available
PK 14.9    Motorway bridge (A77)
PK 14.3    Dordives bridge, quay u/s l/b, village r/b 1000m
PK 12.8    Bridge (Toury)
PK 11.1    Lock 6 (Brisebarre)
PK 10.5    Nargis quay and village with shops l/b

Another pleasant halte and village

PK 10.4    Lock 5 (Nargis), bridge
PK 8.9    Lock 4 (Retourné)
PK 8.1    Bridge (Vaux)
PK 5.9    Lock 3 (Montabon)
PK 5.3    Bridge (Les Vallées)
PK 5.1    Lock 2 (Les Vallées), water
PK 4.3    Motorway viaduct (Viaduc du Loing), A19
PK 3.0    Quay l/b, water, electricity
PK 2.3    Cepoy bridge, village with shops l/b

Convenient halte

PK 2.2    Lock 1 (Cepoy)
PK 0.5    Railway bridge
PK 0.0    Junction with Canal de Briare (d/s of lock 36, Buges)

Buges Canal du Loing Orleans Briare Map

 

 

 

Cruises+Vacations

Cruises, holidays and vacations on the Canal du Loing

hotel barges france

HOTEL BARGE CRUISES

Hotel barges are elegant and supremely comfortable, converted from traditional vessels or created as cruising boutique hotels from new. You’ll experience the smoothest of relaxing week-long vacations in high style looked after by an expert captain, professional masterchef, knowledgeable local excursions guide and attentive English-speaking cabin staff.

self-drive canal boat rental france

SELF-DRIVE CANAL BOAT VACATIONS

Hiring your own cruising boat is an ideal way to explore and experience the pleasures and treasures that the French waterways have to offer. Hire boats come in different sizes, to suit a couple, a family or you and your friends, and your ‘hands on the wheel’ holiday can be arranged from start to finish by any of the reputable companies to be found on french-waterways.com.

self-drive canal boat rentals map
Base locations map – Loire-Centre

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