Marne-Rhine Canal
Encyclopedia
The Marne-Rhine Canal is a canal
in north eastern France
. It connects the river Marne
in Vitry-le-François
with the Rhine in Strasbourg
. Combined with the canalised part of the Marne, it allows transport between Paris
and eastern France. The original objective of the canal was to connect Paris
and the north of France with the Alsace
, the Rhine, and Germany
.
The 313 km (194.5 mi) long canal was opened in 1853. The canal is suited for small ship
s (péniches), maximum size 38.5 m long and 5.05 m wide. It has 154 locks
, including two in the Moselle River
. There are four tunnels. The Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane
is located between Arzviller
and Saint-Louis
and its construction replaced some 17 locks.
The Marne-Rhine Canal is connected with the following navigable waterways (from west to east):
Its course crosses the following départements and towns:
The Voies Navigables France Itinéraires Fluviaux breaks the canal into eastern and western sections. The western sections goes from Vitry-le-François
to Toul
over 131.4 km (81.6 mi) via 97 locks. The eastern section goes from Frouard
to Strasbourg
over 159 km (98.8 mi) via 57 locks. The 23.4 km (14.5 mi) section between Toul
and Frouard
is closed and a canalized section of the Moselle River is used. .
The Through the French Canals book breaks the canal into eastern and western sections, but with a different separation point. The western sections goes from Vitry-le-François
to Réchicourt
over 222 km (137.9 mi) via 121 locks. The eastern section goes from Réchicourt
to Strasbourg
over 91 km (56.5 mi) via 33 locks.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
in north eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It connects the river Marne
Marne River
The Marne is a river in France, a right tributary of the Seine in the area east and southeast of Paris. It is long. The river gave its name to the départements of Haute-Marne, Marne, Seine-et-Marne, and Val-de-Marne....
in Vitry-le-François
Vitry-le-François
Vitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François...
with the Rhine in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Combined with the canalised part of the Marne, it allows transport between Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and eastern France. The original objective of the canal was to connect Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and the north of France with the Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, the Rhine, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The 313 km (194.5 mi) long canal was opened in 1853. The canal is suited for small ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s (péniches), maximum size 38.5 m long and 5.05 m wide. It has 154 locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
, including two in the Moselle River
Moselle River
The Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining the Rhine at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
. There are four tunnels. The Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane
Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane
The Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane is part of the Marne-Rhine Canal , located in the commune of Saint-Louis, between the towns of Saint-Louis and Arzviller in the département of the Moselle. It enables the canal to cross the Vosges Mountains....
is located between Arzviller
Arzviller
Arzviller is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:* Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane* Communes of the Moselle department...
and Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis, Moselle
Saint-Louis is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-References:*...
and its construction replaced some 17 locks.
The Marne-Rhine Canal is connected with the following navigable waterways (from west to east):
- Marne in Vitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François...
- Meuse/Canal de l'EstCanal de l'EstThe Canal de l'Est is a canal in northeastern France. It was built from 1874 to 1887 and has a total length of . It consists of two parts: a northern branch linking the Meuse River and the Moselle, and a southern branch linking the Moselle to the Saône...
in SorcySorcy-Saint-MartinSorcy-Saint-Martin is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
near CommercyCommercyCommercy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the home of the madeleines referred to by Marcel Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.-History:... - Moselle/Canal de l'EstCanal de l'EstThe Canal de l'Est is a canal in northeastern France. It was built from 1874 to 1887 and has a total length of . It consists of two parts: a northern branch linking the Meuse River and the Moselle, and a southern branch linking the Moselle to the Saône...
in ToulToulToul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin.... - Moselle in FrouardFrouardFrouard is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in the region of Lorraine, north-eastern France. It is located 10 km north of Nancy near the confluence of the Moselle and Meurthe. It is noted for its Medieval mill; and was latterly a steel industry centre...
- Embranchement de NancyEmbranchement de NancyThe Embranchement de Nancy is a canal in eastern France. It is presently not in service. It is 10.2 km long with eighteen locks. It is a branch of the Canal de l'Est.-See also:List of canals in France...
in Laneuveville-devant-NancyLaneuveville-devant-NancyLaneuveville-devant-Nancy is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France, which includes the former commune of La Madeleine, notable for manufacturing terra sigillata Ancient Roman pottery.-See also:... - Canal des houillères de la SarreCanal des houillères de la SarreThe Canal des houillères de la Sarre connects the Canal de la Marne au Rhin in Gondrexange to the Saar River in Sarreguemines in northeastern France. -External links:* * -References:...
in GondrexangeGondrexangeGondrexange is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine... - IllIll (France)The Ill is a river in Alsace, in north-eastern France. It is a left-side, or western tributary of the Rhine.It starts down from its source near the village of Winkel, in the Jura mountains, with a resurgence near Ligsdorf, turns around Ferrette on its east side, and then runs northward through...
in StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,... - Rhine in StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
Its course crosses the following départements and towns:
- MarneMarneMarne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
: Vitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François... - MeuseMeuseMeuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
: Bar-le-DucBar-le-DucBar-le-Duc, formerly known as Bar, is a commune in the Meuse département, of which it is the préfecture . The department is in Lorraine in north-eastern France-Geography:...
, Ligny-en-BarroisLigny-en-BarroisLigny-en-Barrois is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.The town is in the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc, beside the canal that links the Rivers Rhine and Marne, fifteen kilometres to the south east of Bar le Duc: it is the administrative seat of the canton ...
, Void-VaconVoid-VaconVoid-Vacon is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meuse department... - Meurthe-et-MoselleMeurthe-et-MoselleMeurthe-et-Moselle is a department in the Lorraine region of France, named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers.- History :Meurthe-et-Moselle was created in 1871 at the end of the Franco-Prussian War from the parts of the former departments of Moselle and Meurthe which remained French...
: ToulToulToul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
, Nancy - MoselleMoselleMoselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
: GondrexangeGondrexangeGondrexange is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
, SarrebourgSarrebourgSarrebourg is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It lies in on the upper course of the river Sarre.It should not be confused with Saarburg in Germany.... - Bas-RhinBas-RhinBas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
: SaverneSaverneSaverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km N.W...
, StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
The Voies Navigables France Itinéraires Fluviaux breaks the canal into eastern and western sections. The western sections goes from Vitry-le-François
Vitry-le-François
Vitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François...
to Toul
Toul
Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
over 131.4 km (81.6 mi) via 97 locks. The eastern section goes from Frouard
Frouard
Frouard is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in the region of Lorraine, north-eastern France. It is located 10 km north of Nancy near the confluence of the Moselle and Meurthe. It is noted for its Medieval mill; and was latterly a steel industry centre...
to Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
over 159 km (98.8 mi) via 57 locks. The 23.4 km (14.5 mi) section between Toul
Toul
Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
and Frouard
Frouard
Frouard is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in the region of Lorraine, north-eastern France. It is located 10 km north of Nancy near the confluence of the Moselle and Meurthe. It is noted for its Medieval mill; and was latterly a steel industry centre...
is closed and a canalized section of the Moselle River is used. .
The Through the French Canals book breaks the canal into eastern and western sections, but with a different separation point. The western sections goes from Vitry-le-François
Vitry-le-François
Vitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François...
to Réchicourt
Réchicourt-le-Château
Réchicourt-le-Château is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
over 222 km (137.9 mi) via 121 locks. The eastern section goes from Réchicourt
Réchicourt-le-Château
Réchicourt-le-Château is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
to Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
over 91 km (56.5 mi) via 33 locks.
En Route
- PK 0 Vitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François...
- PK 47 Bar-le-DucBar-le-DucBar-le-Duc, formerly known as Bar, is a commune in the Meuse département, of which it is the préfecture . The department is in Lorraine in north-eastern France-Geography:...
- PK 62 Ligny-en-BarroisLigny-en-BarroisLigny-en-Barrois is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.The town is in the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc, beside the canal that links the Rivers Rhine and Marne, fifteen kilometres to the south east of Bar le Duc: it is the administrative seat of the canton ...
- PK 86.5 Mauvages tunnel
- PK 111 junction with Canal de la Meuse
- PK 130 ToulToulToul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
- PK 131.5 junction with Moselle
- PK 164 Nancy
- PK 178 DombasleDombasle-sur-MeurtheDombasle-sur-Meurthe is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
- PK 222 RéchicourtRéchicourt-le-ChâteauRéchicourt-le-Château is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
- PK 259 LutzelbourgLutzelbourgLutzelbourg is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne-Rhine Canal....
- PK 269 SaverneSaverneSaverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km N.W...
- PK 286 HochfeldenHochfelden, Bas-RhinHochfelden is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-History:Until their deportation to the south in 1940, Hochfelden had a significant Jewish community....
- PK 307 SouffelweyersheimSouffelweyersheimSouffelweyersheim a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France, and is part of metropolitan Strasbourg.-Etymology:Souffelweyersheim means: the village on the pond of Souffel...
- PK 313 StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...