Burgundy Canal
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Barge and boat size limits
The maximum limits of a boat are indicated below and in red ink
on the drawing.
| Boat size, maximum | Feet | Metric metres |
| Height above water | 10'5" | 3.20 |
| Keel depth | 5'10" | 1.80 |
| Hull width | 16'6" | 5.05 |
The speed limit on the canal is 6 kilometres per hour.
Opening times
You must be respect the lock opening times, and it is illegal to
operate the locks yourself, except for certain sections. I.e. If
the lock keeper is not at the lock you must wait until he/she arrives
before you can prepare the lock.
| Lock operating hours | Morning | Afternoon |
| Weekday | 08.30-12.00 | 13.00-19.00 |
| Sunday / holidays | 09.30-12.00 | 14.00-19.00 |
| Except for the automatic locks. (Non stop service) | ||
The photographs below shows an empty canal "pound" near
Fleurey sur Ouche, you can see the silting up with mud.
Facts and figures about the Burgundy canal.
The first barge to pass the summit of the canal was in December 1832. After more than 200 years of consecution, bankruptcy and arguments.
The canal is 242 kilometre long, it is divided into 188 "pounds"
(stretches of canal between locks), there are 133 locks on the Yonne
side and 76 on the Saône. The canal is built to the Freycinet
standard, accommodating barges and boats up to 38.5 metres long
and 5 metres wide, with a draft of 1.80 metres.
The average depth of water is now 2.10 metres, since the canal was
deepened in 1880 from 1.60 metres.
The longest "pound" is between lock 13-14 Yonne and is 10.5 kilometres, the shortest 201 metres at lock 37 Yonne.
The highest point of the canal is the "partition" at Pouilly en Auxois, it is 378 metres above sea level. The lowest point being at the junction with the river Yonne at 79 metres.
The total altitude change is:
|
Low altitude |
Peak metres above sea level |
Difference in altitude with the river |
Length km |
Average climb rate | |
| Yonne side | 80 | 380 | 299 metres | 155 | 2 m/km |
| Saône side | 180 | 199 metres | 81 | 2.5m/km |
The deepest lock is 106-1075 on the Yonne side with a depth of 5 metres, whilst the average is 2.50 metres. Mock number 106-107 used to be two locks, but the made into a single lock.
There are three groups of "stair cases":
- Marigny: Lock 16-55 Yonne, with 39 locks in 13.8 kilometres, average distances of 356 metres between each lock.
- Pouilly : Lock 1-7 Yonne, with 7 locks in 2 kilometres, average of 333 metres
- Vandenesse: Lock 1-11 Saône, with 11 locks in 3.2 kilometres, average 320 metres.