Summary

Information about the 224km of canal from Vitry-le-François to Maxilly (on the River Saône)

Canal Champagne Bourgogne France Map

The Canal ‘entre Champagne et Bourgogne’ (formerly Canal de la Marne à la Saône), taken with the canalised river Marne and the Canal latéral à la Marne, provides the third of the main waterway routes across central France between Paris and Lyon (after the Bourbonnais and Burgundy routes). Vitry is not in the official Champagne appellation area and Maxilly is not in Burgundy, but the canal does serve as a link between the two. The canal is also referred to by commercial bargees as the ‘Heuilley’.

It begins at Vitry-le-François, where it connects with the Canal de la Marne au Rhin (a short distance from the junction of the latter with the Canal latéral à la Marne) and crosses the Langres plateau before dropping down the Vingeanne valley to connect with the upper Saône at Heuilley-sur-Saône. The length of the canal is 224km. It rises (or falls) 239m through 71 locks between Vitry and Langres; and falls (or rises) 156m through 43 locks between Langres and Maxilly. In between is the 5km long Balesmes tunnel.

Canal Champagne Bourgogne Map

The through route from Paris to Lyon using this canal is the longest of the three, but the least heavily locked, thanks mainly to its more recent construction and greater average lock depth than that of the older Canal du Centre and Canal de Bourgogne. It is also the most convenient route from northern France to the Saône. It remains little used except by boats in transit; annual traffic has been less than 100 boats in recent years.

The canal is very pleasant, with interesting places along the way and it has been successfully spruced up in the last few years. The southernmost 70km section is very rural indeed, with no real opportunity to fill up with either water or fuel. There are no canalside fuel pumps or even canalside service stations there. The canal does still carry some commercial traffic (not a great amount – three peniches per day at a lock) that can be slow-moving and difficult to overtake – there’s often little point in trying, since peniches have priority at locks and are allowed to start their day earlier than plaisanciers. Better to slow down, leave a comfortable distance and enjoy. The advantage of there still being some peniche traffic is that (by ‘ploughing’ through) they keep the depth maintained.

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne history
Choignies lift bridge in the early 20th century http://projetbabel.org/fluvial/rica_marne-saone-canal.htm

History – The Canal de la Marne à la Saône was one of the key projects under the Freycinet programme voted in 1879, which provided for 1400 km of new waterways. At that time a 73 km length with 31 locks had already been built (staring in 1862) under the name of Canal de la Haute-Marne. The planned budgets were regularly cut back in the following years, which made progress slow for the period, and the link was not completed until 1907. Commercial traffic survives on this route.

Essentials


Key Waterway Dimensions

  • Max Beam: 5.05m
  • Max Height: 3.50m
  • Max Draught: 1.80m

Navigation

Navigating the canal should not present insurmountable difficulties to normal pleasure craft and it is one of the recommended routes from the Channel to the Mediterranean. It is usually reliably and well supplied with water. If you should ground and can’t get off, contact an éclusier who will endeavour to fill/overfill that ‘bief’ (pound/reach) and float you off.
Check your engine cooling water filter frequently – leaves and mud in the water and on the bed will get stirred up as you pass and especially as you go up or down in the lock. See Clogged.

Other vessels – As noted above the canal continues to carry some intermittent commercial barge traffic. There are no self-drive hire boat bases along the canal and hire boats (possibly coming up from the Saone) are unlikely to be encountered. There are no hotel barges using the canal on a regular basis although one or two travel the canal occasionally.

Speed limit – 8 km/h. Reckon on 3-4 km/h overall for a day’s travel including écluses, or count écluses and allow for half-an-hour each. Opening hours during the season 08:00 to 19:00, éclusiers take lunch between 12:00 and 13:30, mechanised locks stay operational. Allow seven days for the passage.

PK 0 –Vitry-le-François ©F-W
PK 0 –Vitry-le-François ©F-W

Locks – There are 114 locks, of which 71 fall towards the Marne and 43 towards the Saône. They are of uniform dimensions, 38.50 by 5.20m (max beam 5m plus a small margin), and are nearly all equipped for automatic operation with remote control. Many locks fill right ‘to the brim’ and beyond and this means you must have protection down at the waterline and into the water. Fenders must ‘paddle’ and/or use fender boards to keep from floating up and/or use tyres. See Protection.
Some changes are being made, but in general the northern quarter from Langres towards Vitry is operated by travelling eclusiers. Contact the VNF in advance (the afternoon before), either by telephone (numbers below) or by talking to the eclusiers – a number of locks are manned, in particular the first ecluse above Vitry that is a local VNF office. The eclusiere (usually female) travels the canal path in a small car or on a moped, meets you at the lock (which she prepares), you assist her (usually) to operate the lock, then she finishes off after you exit and then travels on to meet you at the next lock. Working hours are strictly observed, including 1.5 hrs lunchbreak (this includes you!). Our experience (bar one and only for a few hours) was that all the eclusiers were friendly and helpful. Do as you would be done by…
The locks between Vitry and Joinville (#70 to #45) are operated by a remote control that you’ll be given (to be certain, telephone the day before) and by a control box with rods at the ecluse. Elsewhere, radar will sense your approach to the ecluse – don’t go too fast past the sensor or it will not ‘see’ you. See Locks. Going up the chain of deep ecluses on the Saone side approaching the tunnel can present the difficulty that it may not be possible to have crew ‘at the top’, which then means mooring near enough (this is dependent on bollard positions) to the rods ‘at the bottom’ to grab and push the blue rod up (which is sometimes very tricky if it is covered with slimy algae). The rods are seemingly always opposite the ladder position (the ladder is also slimy).

Draught – The maximum authorised draught is 1.80m. This is the ‘book’ values and may vary according to conditions.

Canal entre Champagne Bourgogne Tunnel
Southern entrance to Balesmes Tunnel. © D. Romijn

Tunnels – The canal has a 10km long summit level south of Langres, at an altitude of 340m. This includes the Balesmes tunnel, 4820m in length, extended by narrow approaches to form a one-way only section 7.3 km long. Passage through the tunnel is controlled by the lock-keepers at each end of the summit level. It is therefore forbidden to moor in this pound. The Balesmes tunnel offers the rare luxury of being lit. There is also a 308m long tunnel at Condes (km 106), which is unique in being the only tunnel on the French waterway network (excluding the Paris canals) to allow simultaneous passage in both directions (the width being 18m). There are no special regulations regarding passage.

Operation – From Monday to Saturday, 7:00 to 19:00 for commercial craft, and 9:00 to 18:00 for recreational craft. The latter times apply to all traffic on Sundays. Navigation is at the users’ convenience in the sectors with automatic locks (71 to 45 on the Marne side and 1 to 43 on the Saône side), and subject to advance notice in the sector with manually operated locks (44 to 1 on the Marne side). Pending the installation of a distributor of remote control units at lock 43 (Chemin de fer), all users are required to programme their passage at the latest at 15:00 the day before.

Headroom – The fixed bridges leave a minimum clear headroom of 3.45m.

Towpath – There is a towpath throughout.

Authority – Useful telephone numbers (to advise of your entry into this canal, or problems, etc.). VNF’s subdivisional offices are at :
– 34, rue de l’Arquebuse, 52100 Saint-Dizier (km 0-165)
– rue Alexandre Rouard, 52250 Longeau-Percey (km 165-224)

Details+Map

Click to enlarge

Champagne Bourgogne waterway strip

Detailed route description, north to south

PK 0.0     Connection with Canal de la Marne au Rhin
PK 0.1     Quay (Citadelle) r/b, turning basin d/s
PK 0.5     Vitry-le-François bridge (Pont de Saint-Dizier), quay u/s l/b, capacity 10 boats, night €10, water, electricity, showers, crane, slipway, repairs, town centre 700m l/b

The ‘harbour’ lies on a bend, opposite a large peniche repair yard. It is very small and shallow; except for one occasion (in November) we’ve never managed or wanted to get in and we have never managed to hook up to the electricity (both it and water are available but possibly not dependably so). There are no showers or ablutions that we have ever found; they are supposed to exist. However, it is possible to moor up outside, alongside the canal itself, although the quay is not large.
Vitry is a pleasant enough small town (rebuilt following wholesale destruction in WWII) and has facilities such as supermarkets and a large Brico (DIY store).

PK 0.8     Private footbridge
PK 0.9     Railway bridge
PK 1.1     Lock 71 (Désert), footbridge, quay u/s l/b

Ecluse #71 Desert has a VNF office but also features a lock wall edge that steps below water level – impossible not to rub against and difficult to stop lines slipping off the inset bollards.

Vitry-le-Francois Jonction PlanPK 1.4     Bridge
PK 2.3     Bridge (D396)
PK 2.7     Frignicourt quay l/b, village 800m l/b
PK 2.8     Lock 70 (Frignicourt), bridge
PK 5.4     Bridge PK 6.1 Luxémont basin r/b, village 1000m r/b
PK 6.3     Lock 69 (Luxémont), bridge
PK 7.3     Goncourt bridge, basin u/s l/b (silted up), château 600m l/b
PK 8.9     Lock 68 (Ecriennes), bridge

A small Halte in a quiet location. Just the quay.

PK 9.7     Bridge
PK 11.3     Lock 67 (Matignicourt), footbridge
PK 12.9     Bridge
PK 13.5     Lock 66 (Orconte), bridge, quay d/s l/b, night €8, water, electricity, shower in season

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne path

On the towpath d/s of écluse 66 Orconte, a very pleasant halte. Small village close by.

PK 13.8     Turning basin
PK 14.3     Bridge
PK 15.4     Lock 65 (Bruyères), bridge
PK 18.8     Lock 64 (Sapignicourt), bridge
PK 19.5     Sapignicourt bridge, small village 300m l/b
PK 20.2     Lock 63 (Perthes), bridge, quay d/s l/b, village 300m r/b
PK 20.7     Bridge
PK 22.6     Lock 62 (Garenne), bridge
PK 24.1     Lock 61 (Hallignicourt), bridge, village l/b
PK 26.4     Lock 60 (Hoëricourt), bridge (airfield l/b)
PK 27.5     Main road bridge (N4, Saint-Dizier bypass)
PK 28.2     Lock 59 (Noue), right angle turn under bridge
PK 28.9     Bridge, private quay u/s r/b
PK 30.0     Saint-Dizier bridge, turning basin and quay d/s l/b, town centre 400m l/b

Saint-Dizier is a small town with a full range of facilities. There are extensive quaysides and other places to moor alongside, but currently no Halte (the old PdP at pk28 has been abandoned for some years but can still be used – service station close by). The town has plans to develop a smart new PdP but these are at the design stage. The VNF office by ecluse #58 seems to have closed.

PK 30.1     Lock 58 (Saint-Dizier), water
PK 30.4     Bridge, private basin d/s r/b
PK 30.5     Footbridge
PK 30.8     Bridge
PK 31.3     Railway bridge
PK 31.4     Bridge (D384)
PK 32.0     Industrial quays l/b
PK 33.5     Railway swing bridge
PK 33.6     Lift bridge
PK 33.9     Main road bridge (N4, Saint-Dizier bypass)
PK 34.1     Lock 57 (Marnaval)
PK 35.5     Bridge
PK 36.1     Railway bridge (after right angle bend)
PK 36.3     Lock 56 (Guë)
PK 36.7     Bridge
PK 38.5     Bridge
PK 38.9     Chamouilley bridge, quay d/s r/b, village r/b
PK 39.4     Lock 55 (Chamouilley), water, private quay u/s r/b

A Halte (timber pontoons) by a village. Small grocery/boulangerie.

PK 39.5     Railway bridge
PK 40.7     Lock 54 (Eurville)
PK 41.6     Eurville lift bridge (automatic), quay d/s r/b, village 300m l/b

Quayside, planned to be improved under VNF scheme.


Lift bridges and swing bridges
This section of the canal has a number of lift (pont levant) and turn (pont tournant) bridges. Some are operated manually by éclusiers and some operate automatically, an approaching boat being sensed by radar. Don’t approach too fast!

PK 43.0     Lock 53 (Bienville), footbridge, aqueduct u/s
PK 43.2     Bienville lift bridge (automatic), turning basin d/s, village 200m r/b
PK 43.6     Aqueduct
PK 45.9     Lock 52 (Bayard), aqueduct u/s
PK 46.3     Bayard-sur-Marne lift bridge (automatic), quay d/s l/b, village r/b

A small Halte in a quiet location. Small supermarket nearby. Service station not far. Trains rumble past.

PK 47.2     Lift bridge
PK 48.2     Lock 51 (Fontaines), bridge, aqueduct u/s
PK 48.9     Lift bridge
PK 49.7     Railway bridge (disused)
PK 50.6     Lock 50 (Chevillon), bridge, quays u/s and d/s r/b, village 300m r/b
PK 52.8     Lock 49 (Breuil)
PK 54.6     Lock 48 (Curel), footbridge
PK 54.7     Curel lift bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 500m r/b
PK 55.6     Lift bridge (Autigny-le-Petit)
PK 56.5     Autigny-le-Grand lift bridge (automatic), small village r/b

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Mooring Bussy
Halte at Bussy PK 59

PK 57.1     Lock 47 (Autigny-le-Grand), bridge
PK 58.3     Railway bridge
PK 59.3     Lock 46 (Bussy), bridge, private quay u/s l/b

Small village Halte in a quiet location. Just the quay.

PK 60.3     Thonnance-lès-Joinville bridge, turning basin and quay u/s r/b, village 600m r/b
PK 61.1     Bridge (N67, Joinville bypass)
PK 61.2     Lock 45 (Rongeant), bridge, aqueduct u/s
PK 62.5     Joinville bridge, quay d/s r/b, free mooring for 7 boats, water, electricity, pump-out, small town 300m l/b

A very pretty village, but as it was pouring with rain when

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Mooring Joinville
Halte at Joinville PK 62

we arrived for an overnight stay so we didn’t see too much of it. The canal meanders through the village, which includes the Château du Grand Jardin, a restored 16C house and park. At PK62 a popular Halte with water and electricity. Also length of public quayside at PK63.

PK 63.2     Lock 44 (Joinville), bridge, water, private quay u/s l/b
PK 63.8     Bridge (N67, Joinville bypass), basin u/s
PK 66.0     Lock 43 (Bonneval), bridge
PK 67.6     Lock 42 (Saint-Urbain), bridge, quay d/s r/b, village 1200m r/b
PK 70.4     Lock 41 (Mussey), bridge, aqueduct u/s
PK 70.5     Mussey-sur-Marne lift bridge, village 1000m l/b
PK 71.9     Donjeux bridge, turning basin and quay d/s l/b, mooring for 4 boats, water, electricity, shower, pump-out, village 500m r/b
PK 73.2     Lock 40 (Rouvroy), bridge, aqueduct u/s, village 300m l/b
PK 74.0     Bridge
PK 76.0     Lock 39 (Gudmont), lift bridge u/s, quay u/s r/b, village 400m l/b
PK 77.2     Railway bridge
PK 77.9     Villiers-sur-Marne bridge, small village 400m l/b
PK 78.7     Lock 38 (Villiers), bridge
PK 79.6     Railway bridge
PK 81.2     Lock 37 (Provenchères), bridge, basin u/s l/b
PK 82.5     Railway bridge
PK 84.2     Lock 36 (Froncles), bridge
PK 84.4     Froncles quay l/b, village 400m l/b

An excellent new Halte with all facilities, pretty little village (the small supermarket is at the top end of the village) and lovely scenery.

PK 85.3     Turning basin
PK 85.6     Buxières-lès-Froncles bridge, quay u/s r/b, village l/b
PK 86.9     Lock 35 (Buxières), bridge
PK 88.6     Bridge
PK 89.7     Lock 34 (Vouécourt), bridge, quay d/s r/b, village l/b
PK 91.6     Lock 33 (Grandvaux), bridge
PK 93.2     Viéville lift bridge (automatic), quay u/s l/b, mooring for 8 boats, night €1.50, water and electricity €1.50), village 300m r/b
PK 94.4     Lock 32 (Viéville), bridge
PK 96.4     Lock 31 (Roôcourt), bridge, turning basin u/s, small village r/b
PK 96.9     Railway bridge
PK 97.4     Lock 30 (Bologne), bridge, boat moorings d/s l/b, village 700m l/b
PK 97.7     Aqueduct
PK 98.0     Bridge, quay u/s r/b
PK 100.9     Lock 29 (Riaucourt), bridge, small village r/b
PK 102.7     Lock 28 (Mouillerys)
PK 104.0     Bridge
PK 104.5     Lift bridge
PK 104.6     Lock 27 (Brethenay)

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Condes tunnel
Approaching Condes tunnel (PK 106) from the south, crossing the aqueduct over the Marne

PK 105.1     Brethenay quay and small village l/b
PK 105.5     Lock 26 (Condes), bridge (D200)
PK 105.6     Condes tunnel, northern entrance
PK 105.9     Condes tunnel, southern entrance
PK 106.1     Aqueduct, lift bridge
PK 108.9     Lock 25 (Reclancourt), bridge, quay d/s r/b
PK 109.5     Turning basin
PK 110.0     Chaumont bridge (D674), (Port de la Maladière), quay for 10 boats d/s r/b, night €6.60, water and electricity €2, shower €2, pump-out, town centre 2000m l/b

Condes (pk 105) has a bridge over the Marne, just by the fine 1887 short tunnel, which is itself just by an ecluse at one end and a small lift bridge at the other. There is a short length of quayside by the pretty lock and adjacent buildings at PK101 Riaucourt- very pleasant location.At Chaumont (capital of Haute Marne) there is a largesupermarket on the hill up to the town from the canal and a Halte (03 25 31 61 09) with good facilities including water and electricity.Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Chaumont Junction Plan

PK 110.4     Lock 24 (Val des Choux)
PK 111.9     Lock 23 (Choignes), bridge, quay u/s r/b
PK 113.0     Bridge
PK 114.9     Lock 22 (Chamarandes), bridge, quay u/s l/b, small village 300m l/b
PK 116.1     Lock 21 (Foulon de la Roche)
PK 117.0     Bridge
PK 117.6     Lock 20 (Val des Ecoliers), bridge
PK 118.0     Aqueduct
PK 118.7     Verbiesles bridge, small village 400m r/b
PK 119.6     Footbridge
PK 119.6     Luzy-sur-Marne lift bridge, quay u/s r/b, village 400m r/b
PK 120.5     Lock 19 (Luzy)
PK 122.2     Lock 18 (Pêcheux)

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Luzy lift bridge
Luzy lift bridge (PK 120)

PK 122.8     Lock 17 (Foulain), bridge
PK 123.4     Aqueduct
PK 124.3     Foulain bridge, mooring for 2 boats d/s r/b, water, village l/b

Foulain has two small timber pontoons by grass just below the bridge. There is water but the tap is beyond normal hose length away and does not have an attachment spout – jerrycans only. The village has a good service station not

far from the mooring (across the bridge, over the level crossing, turn right).

PK 125.9     Lock 16 (Boichaulle), bridge, quay, turning basin d/s r/b
PK 127.2     Railway bridge
PK 127.3     Lock 15 (Pré-Roche)
PK 129.4     Bridge
PK 129.7     Railway bridge
PK 129.8     Lock 14 (Pommeraye), disused railway bridge
PK 131.0     Marnay-sur-Marne bridge, village 800m l/b
PK 131.1     Lock 13 (Marnay)
PK 132.6     Vesaignes-sur-Marne quay and village r/b
PK 132.9     Lock 12 (Vesaignes), bridge
PK 134.0     Bridge
PK 134.9     Lock 11 (Thivet), bridge
PK 136.5     Lock 10 (Prées), bridge
PK 138.8     Rolampont bridge, basin for 3 boats d/s, water, electricity, restaurant, village l/b
PK 139.2     Lock 9 (Rolampont), bridge

Rolampont has a small quay (often occupied) – services may not be operational. However, the village is very nice with a basic range of facilities and there are other

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Mooring Rolampont
Halte at Rolampont PK 139

opportunities to moor bank-side. A bike ride away (head north on the main village street) is the petrified waterfall and beautiful woodland scenery of La Tuffière, which is memorably unique and well worth visiting.

PK 140.4     Lock 8 (Saint-Menge), bridge
PK 140.6     Motorway bridge (A31)
PK 142.1     Lock 7 (Chanoy), bridge
PK 143.6     Lock 6 (Pouillot)
PK 144.4     Lock 5 (Humes), bridge, quay for 2 boats u/s r/b, water, village 500m l/b

A small village Halte.

PK 145.3     Bridge
PK 145.9     Jorquenay swing bridge, small village r/b
PK 146.3     Lock 4 (Jorquenay), bridge
PK 147.8     Railway bridge
PK 148.1     Lock 3 (Moulin-Rouge), bridge
PK 148.8     Langres bridge (D74), basin and quay d/s l/b,  water, electricity, slipway, restaurant, town centre 2000m l/b, turning basin d/s

Two Haltes, fairly close to Langres town – an historic hilltop location with ramparts, a complete 2.5km curtain wall and fine buildings. Champigny (PK 151) with water and electricity, Langres with a service station fairly close by (0.5km).

PK 149.8     Lock 2 (Moulin-Chapeau), bridge
PK 150.2     Bridge
PK 151.1     Bridge (Champigny)
PK 151.9     Skew railway bridge
PK 152.4     Bridge (N19)
PK 152.5     Lock 1 (Batailles), bridge, beginning of summit level
PK 154.9     Short tunnel under road (D17)
PK 155.4     Balesmes tunnel, northern entrance

Entry into the 5km tunnel is now controlled from the ecluses at each end; one way in each direction for a period of time. Tunnel and 12 ecluses control office +33 325 88 42 02 (at Heuilley-Cotton). The recommended speed limit is very slow – frankly we would have had problems maintaining concentration and direction at that speed. We were following a peniche in the lead-up to the tunnel that, considerately, let us overtake. In the event, our passages have taken about 1 hour, without incident.
The tunnel is lit and most of the lights work (not all, there are ‘dark’ gaps) but a properly powerful torch or headlight is essential. Keep a close watch for logs and branches. There is a path that runs the entire length, making the tunnel feel narrower than it actually is; there is plenty of headroom (and drips!). The tunnel bief (pound) is, of course, the highest point in the canal; it’s downhill from then on in whichever direction and ‘down’ locks are much easier than ‘up’ ones.

PK 160.2     Balesmes tunnel, southern entrance

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne tunnel Balesmes
Approaching the Balesmes tunnel entrance

The canal’s ‘feel’ is very different each side of the tunnel. Emerging to be greeted by a view of the small village of Heuilley, one feels almost alpine. In the vicinity (PK162 – PK170) is a flight of 12 (mechanised) ecluses, some very close to one another and all between 4m and over 5m deep. Easy to descend they are correspondingly difficult to ascend – even with crew waiting ‘up top’, getting lines up to them whilst controlling the boat is tricky to say the least. There are opportunities to moor bank-side and visit the village of Villegusien – at PK168 and PK169.

PK 161.7     Heuilley-Cotton bridge, basin d/s, village l/b
PK 162.1     Bridge
PK 162.6     Lock 1 (Versant Saône), bridge, water
PK 163.0     Lock 2
PK 163.5     Lock 3
PK 163.8     Lock 4, bridge (D241)
PK 164.2     Lock 5
PK 164.6     Lock 6
PK 165.1     Lock 7
PK 165.6 Lock 8 (bottom lock of Versant Saône flight), bridge (D67)
PK 166.4     Railway bridge
PK 167.1     Bridge
PK 167.5     Villegusien bridge, basin, quay u/s r/b, village 200m r/b
PK 167.8     Lock 9 (Villegusien), bridge, water
PK 168.2     Lock 10 (Pré-Meunier), footbridge
PK 168.7     Lock 11 (Château), bridge
PK 169.2     Piépape bridge, small village and castle r/b
PK 169.5     Lock 12 (Piépape), footbridge
PK 171.4     Vingeanne aqueduct
PK 171.6     Bridge (D128)
PK 171.9     Lock 13 (Bise l’Assaut)
PK 172.9     Lock 14 (Croix-Rouge), bridge
PK 173.5     Bridge
PK 173.7     Lock 15 (Dommarien), bridge, timber pontoon for 2 boats d/s l/b, water, turning basin, village 200m l/b

A small village Halte. Pretty – no facilities in the village.

PK 175.8     Footbridge
PK 176.4     Lock 16 (Choilley), bridge, quay d/s l/b, village 200m l/b
PK 177.0     Lock 17 (Foireuse), bridge
PK 177.7     Dardenay bridge (D128), small village l/b
PK 178.2     Lock 18 (Dardenay)
PK 178.9     Lock 19 (Grand-Côte), footbridge
PK 179.6     Lock 20 (Badin), bridge (D140)
PK 179.9     Aqueduct
PK 180.2     Lock 21 (Montrepelle)
PK 180.9     Lock 22 (Cusey), bridge, water

A new village Halte with water and electricity.

PK 181.5     Cusey bridge, turning basin and quay d/s r/b, village 400m l/b
PK 183.5     Lock 23 (Bec), bridge
PK 184.6     Percey-sous-Montormentier bridge, small village 500m l/b
PK 185.6     Lock 24 (Courchamp), bridge, turning basin and quay d/s r/b, village 400m r/b

The southernmost 40 km: There are small Halte mooring places at PK211 Oisilly, PK215 Reneve and PK217 Cheuge. There are also numerous opportunities to moor bankside provided one is sensible about the location. Watch out for both shallows and bank-side rocks. The above picture is at PK198 Lalau; we have also moored against a little-used grain silo quay at PK206 Champagne-sur-Vingeanne.

PK 186.6     Bridge
PK 187.6     Lock 25 (Romagne), bridge
PK 189.0     Lock 26 (Saint-Maurice), bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 1000m l/b
PK 190.2     Lock 27 (Lavilleneuve), footbridge
PK 192.1     La Villeneuve-sur-Vingeanne bridge, turning basin, quay d/s r/b, small village r/b
PK 194.0     Lock 28 (Pouilly)
PK 194.8     Bridge
PK 195.1     Pouilly-sur-Vingeanne bridge, small village l/b
PK 196.7     Lock 29 (Saint-Seine), bridge, basin u/s r/b, village 1500m l/b
PK 197.3     Lock 30 (Lalau)
PK 198.2     Lock 31 (Fontaine-Française)
PK 198.7     Bridge
PK 199.5     Lock 32 (Fontenelle), bridge
PK 200.4     Bridge
PK 201.8     Lock 33 (Licey), bridge
PK 202.7     Licey-sur-Vingeanne bridge, quay u/s r/b, village r/b
PK 204.1     Dampierre-et-Flée bridge, quay u/s r/b, small village 400m r/b
PK 204.4     Lock 34 (Dampierre), bridge
PK 205.2     Lock 35 (Beaumont), bridge, turning basin, quay d/s, r/b
PK 206.6     Bridge (Ramisse), private quay u/s r/b
PK 207.9     Lock 36 (Blagny), bridge
PK 208.5     Blagny-sur-Vingeanne quay and small village r/b
PK 208.6     Lock 37 (Rochette), bridge
PK 210.1     Railway viaduct
PK 210.5     Lock 38 (Oisilly), bridge, small village r/b
PK 211.0     Bridge
PK 211.4     Quay r/b
PK 212.4     Bridge, quays d/s
PK 214.4     Lock 39 (Renève), bridge, turning basin and quay d/s r/b, village 500m l/b
PK 215.8     Lift bridge
PK 216.0     Cheuge bridge, small village r/b
PK 217.4     Lock 40 (Cheuge)
PK 219.3     Lock 41 (Saint-Sauveur), bridge, quay d/s r/b, village 500m r/b
PK 220.0     Bridge
PK 221.1     Bridge (D25)
PK 222.7     Lock 42 (Maxilly), bridge, quay u/s r/b, village 400m r/b

Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne Maxilly lock
Lock at Maxilly, PK 222.7

The last (or first) pair of ecluses, where the canal joins the River Saone. The contrast between the narrow parallel-sided canal and the wide soft river is striking.

PK 222.9     Bridge
PK 223.0     Lock 43 (Chemin de Fer), railway bridge
PK 223.5     Bridge
PK 224.2     Junction with river Saône (Heuilley lock-cut, km 127), footbridge

Cruises+Vacations

Cruises, holidays and vacations on the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne

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.

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