Canal de Berry - Construction

Construction

Although discussed from 1484, it was not until 1780 when Armand II-Joseph, 6th Duke of Béthune Charost presented the first solid proposal to the provincial assembly. But work did not start until after an imperial decree in 1809 and was not completed until 1839. The work was designed by Joseph-Michel Dutens and mainly carried out by Spanish prisoners of war in the 1820s.

Because of the shortage of water near the summit level at Sancoins, the 96 locks of the canal were built to a gauge of only 27.5 metres (90 ft) by 2.7 metres (8.9 ft), similar to British "narrow canal" practice. Barges built to this gauge are called berrichons. They could carry about 60 tonnes of freight over the summit of the Canal de Berry but their draught allowed them to carry up to 100 tonnes on other French waterways. By 1865 there were 890 berrichons on the waterway, drawn teams of two to four by horses, mules or donkeys.

The main traffic of the canal was cast iron from the forges at Montluçon, and coal, pit props, wines and spirits. However despite a new pumping station in 1878, leakages caused a lowering of water levels so the canal was never upgraded to the Freycinet gauge. Traffic declined steadily till the 1930s and was finally closed in 1955.