Canal of Burgundy

Canal de Bourgogne
Burgundy Canal near Fulvy
Specifications
Length	242 km (150 mi)
Lock length	40m
Lock width	5.2m
Locks	189 (originally 191)
Status	Open
History
Construction began	1775
Date completed	1832
Geography
Start point	Yonne River junction in Migennes
End point	Saône junction in Saint-Jean-de-Losne
Connects to	Yonne River, Saône

The Burgundy Canal (French: Canal de Bourgogne) is a canal in Burgundy in central eastern France. It connects the river Yonne at Migennes with the Saône at Saint-Jean-de-Losne. Construction began in 1775 and was completed in 1832. The canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea via the Seine and the Yonne to the Saône and Rhône.

The canal is 242 km (150 mi) long, with 189 locks. There were originally 191 lock basins but the double staircase locks at Migennes (114-115Y) and Germigny (106-107Y) had the uppermost set of gates removed the lower chamber raised, for form single locks, though twice as deep as a standard lock (5m13 and 5m14 instead of the usual 2.50 - 3m).

The canal passes through the departments of Yonne and Côte-d'Or. Its summit level is at Pouilly-en-Auxois, 378m above sea level. At this point the canal passes through a tunnel which is 3,333 metres long. The lowest point is at the junction with the Yonne at 79 m (259 ft) above sea level.

The canal begins at Migennes where the former double staircase lock gives access from the Yonne to a large basin. For the next 100 km the canal follows the valley of the Armançon river. This is a centuries-old route towards the south-east and, which is why the canal is closely followed by road and railway. The first lock after leaving Migennes, Cheny (113Y), is one of the few electric locks to be found on the canal. After 9 km the canal arrives in Brienon-sur-Armançon with its recently built grain silos which permit the loading of barges and trains. The canal then heads off towards St Florentin with its aqueduct over the Armance river and the impressive church overlooking the lower town.