ROANNE'S CANAL HAS DIGOIN

The Canal Canal in Digoin, a long 55 km long (37 m distance - 10 locks), was built from 1832 to 1838 with the aim of complementing the little navigable course of the Loire. Thus it allowed to develop relations with the North and East of France - expedition of tile, wire and fabrics of Roanne and Charlieu, mineral waters of Saint-Galmier, Vichy or Sail-sous-Couzan…, imported coal from the North, Rouen cotton, ores, Sablons de Nemours for glass plants… - while contributing to the glass. economic growth in the region with the establishment of many plants along its banks (brick, mills, arsenal…). Expanded to the Freycinet template in 1905, it saw at its peak (1938) 3 217 boats carrying 459 304 tonnes of cargo. Before the motorisation, the boats were hâlés by men and horses (or mule) at 12 km a day. However, the appearance of rail and the development of the road network had gradually been due to him and the canal was completely abandoned for freight transport in the s. On the other hand, it has been very successful because it is now very much appreciated for recreational boating. It is connected to the Centre Canal and the side canal to the Loire.