Canal De La Sarre
History
The canal was built to carry coal from the mines around Saarbrücken, hence its original name. After a private company failed in 1844, the State took over the project and started works in 1861, to be completed in 1867. Although predating the Freycinet programme by nearly 20 years, it was built directly to these dimensions, justified by the volume of coal to be exported from the Saar collieries in Germany. The river Saar downstream from Saarbrücken was unnavigable until the canalisation works were completed in 1986.
Development for tourism
The canal is rural in character and charming throughout. Through navigation down to the Moselle near Trier, 90 km beyond Saarbrücken, is possible, thanks to canalisation of the Saar in Germany. The cross-border connection was blocked for two years following closure of the first lock in Germany, at Güdingen, but was expected to be reopened in 2017.
See also
References
- ^ Fluviacarte, Canal de la Sarre (ex-canal des Houillères de la Sarre)
- ^ Edwards-May, David (2010). Inland Waterways of France. St Ives, Cambs., UK: Imray. pp. 90–94. ISBN 978-1-846230-14-1.
- ^ Berg, Charles. "Canal des Houillères de la Sarre ou "canal de la Sarre"".
External links
- List of locks
- Project Babel
- Canal de la Sarre with maps and detailed information on places, ports and moorings on the canal, by the author of Inland Waterways of France, 8th ed., 2010, Imray
48°42′N 6°55′E / 48.700°N 6.917°E