Canal de Bourgogne
History Canal de Bourgogne
The first plans for the construction of the Canal de Bourgogne were made in 1607. The first goal of the developers was to collect money to finance this project. Part of the money was collected by increasing taxes for the local farmers. This tax money was used to pay for the construction of the channel between Dijon and Saint Jean de Losne.
In 1696, Vauban released a study in which he suggested 5 possible routes for the Canal de Bourgogne. This article was criticised by mayors, who were only interested in the commercial opportunities that a channel brings, people who owned the land and wanted to sell it for a good price and the engineers.
Only in 1718 Mr. de la Jonckers did another study, he was convinced the top of the channel had to be located in the small town Sombernon. The States of Burgundy gave Mr.Abeille the task to investigate the Pouillenay valley. He announced his his results three years later. Eventually, 120 years after the first plans, the route of the channel was decided.
In 1765 construction started under the supervision of Louis XVI. First
work on the side towards the Yonne would commence. This part of the
channel would be paid by the state. The
state of Burgundy was responsible for of the Sane side towards
Dijon.
But soon work on the Yonne side fell behind
schedule and the lack of money stopped work momentarily in 1793. But the
state of Bourgondy persevered and working on the canal between Dijon
and Sane were soon completed. On December 14th, 1808 the first
barge navigated it's way to the port in the city.
The works were stopped again during the French Revolution and even the pressure of Napoleon 1st didn't do much good.
In 1822, after a loan of 25 million French francs (3.8 million Euro), digging began yet again. On December 28th, 1832 the first boat reached the top of the channel by passing the 3333 m long tunnel of Pouilly.
©2008-2009 Maarten Van Rompuy
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