The channel of Orleans is an old navigable water way until its downgrading in 1954. Entirely located in the Department of Loiret, this channel connects the the Loire to Montargis where the continuity of the water way is then ensured by the Canal of Loing always navigable and allowing to gain Paris.

Today property of the General advice of the Loiret until in 2035, its reopening with navigation is envisaged in the neighborhoods of 2009 (except Péniche S).

A summary track makes it possible to traverse with bicycle the channel of Montargis to Orleans in one day for the sportsmen or two days quiet with stage with Lorris and surroundings. It is an excursion punt and pleasant. Later on, it is envisaged installations for the véloroute TransEuropéenne which will connect Paris to the Loire Valley.

This channel has a 76,700 km length.

Wet communes

Of Orleans towards Montargis: Orleans, Saint-Jean-of-Sling, Combleux, Chécy, Mardié, Donnery, Fay-with-Cabins, Vitry-aux-Loges, Combreux, Sury-with-Wood, Beauchamps-on-Huillard, Châtenoy, Old woman-House-on-Joudry, Coudroy, Walnut trees, Chailly-in-Gâtinais, Presnoy, Chevillon-on-Huillard, Saint-Maurice-on-Fessard, Montargis.

Works

Some dates

• 1676 : Robert Mahieu, negotiating of wood in Forest of Orleans, request the authorization with the Duke of Orleans to dig a water way enters the Loing (to join Paris via the the Seine) and the sector of Lorris.
• 1677 - 1678: Opening of the section between Old woman-Houses and Buges.
• 1679 : Robert Mahieu wants to prolong the channel until the the Loire with Orleans. For lack of funds, it yields the channel to the Duc of Orleans which gives up it in its turn with an architect and a financier.
• 1681 : Beginning of the construction of the channel. Meanwhile, the Duke takes again the concession and entrusts the building site to Jean de Creil.
• 1686 - 1691: Jean-Baptiste de Régemortes directs the end of the construction of the channel.
• 1692 : Opening of the channel. Immediate success: 5 Mars 1692 passage of the first boat of the the Loire to the the Seine.
• 1692 - 1793: " Century of or" channel of Orleans. Nearly 2.000 boats go up the the Loire since Nantes and gain Paris by the Channel of Orleans.
• 1793 : The Duc of Orleans is guillotine; the channel becomes quite national.
• 1863 : After various owners, the management of the channel is finally entrusted to the Ponts and Chaussées for 91 years.
• 1879 : To compete with the Railroad, Charles Freycinet lance a modernization program of the French channels. The idea to prolong the channel until Orleans is again in the air.
• 1908 - 1921: Work of the second section Combleux - Orleans.
• 1954 : The rail carries the blow of thanks to the channel which is displaced.
• 1978 : Creation of the Mixed trade-union of Management of the Channel of Orleans. It joins together the Département of Loiret and the 20 bordering communes.
• 1985 : The State entrusts to the Département of Loiret the management of the field for 50 years. This last carries out since a regular program of restoration.

sources

• the Channel of Orleans to the wire of time by Roland Rabartin.

External bonds

• Study on the Channel of Orleans ordered by the General advice of Loiret, this study counts in particular work to be considered for a reopening with the navigation of the channel, photographs to the support. (format .pdf)
• CyclotransEurope Description of strolls along the channel of Orleans.