Canal d'Ille-et-Rance | |
---|---|
Specifications | |
Length | 79 km (49 mi) [1] |
Locks | 47 [1][2] |
History | |
Construction began | 1804 |
Date of first use | 1832 |
Geography | |
Direction | North/South |
Start point | Vilaine at Rennes[1] |
End point | Dinan[1] |
The Canal d'Ille-et-Rance (French pronunciation: [kanal dil e ʁɑ̃s], literally Canal of Ille and Rance; Breton: Kanol an Il hag ar Renk) is a 79 km (49 mi) long canal in northwestern France connecting Dinan to the Vilaine at Rennes, thus forming part of the English Channel/Atlantic Ocean link which has long been used by yachtsmen, but has also become increasingly popular as a cruising waterway in its own right.[3] It takes its name from the rivers Ille and Rance. Several hire firms are based on the canal or its connecting waterways. From Dinan the navigation continues in the semi-tidal river Rance for a further 6 km to Le Châtelier lock, below which navigation continues in the tidal Rance maritime. The canal has a summit level 7 km in length at an altitude of 65m, and in times of drought some restrictions may have to be imposed on the use of locks.[3]