Canal de Briare (Le) walks

Marked hike N°71. A whole new way to discover the story of the construction of the Canal de Briare! With this hike you can follow a part of its water supply system and come back along the old route to the incredible monument that we today know as the Seven Locks.

Ranked among the most beautiful sites in France, explore Montargis through its streets on the water with 131 bridges and footbridges. A gastronomic and lakeside town nicknamed the Venice of Gâtinais.

Circular starting from the lakeside town of Montargis, known as the Venice of Gatinais. The junctions of the Briare, Orléans and Loing canals made it a veritable river crossroads between the Loire and Seine basins until the Orléans canal was decommissioned in 1954. Follow the waterways through the Loing valley, passing rivers, canals and lakes.

This family hike is historically very interesting. Between the shaded first part and the canal-side second part, the route has a total elevation gain of 28 metres, mainly at the beginning. In terms of history, from Henri IV to Charles de Freycinet, the size of boats has increased, imposing new standards. Today, we talk about the amount of water consumed that needs to be saved.

This first stage runs along the Loire to take you to Briare, a charming little town full of flowers, with its small river port. Please note: this hike can be done either as part of the 3-stage Gien - Cosne-sur-Loire hike, or on its own by taking the train from Briare back to Gien.

This hike begins with a crossing of the magnificent Briare Canal Bridge. This crossing is a privilege and if you are there early in the morning, you are sure to experience a range of emotions.It continues along paths that run alongside the canal parallel to the Loire, offering bucolic panoramas.