McCarthy's Travel Blog

Wednesday 6 June

We were invited to return to Marc and Jacqueline's home for lunch and to finalise wedding preparations.

After lunch Marc and Jacquelin took us for a drive around the area, Christopher and Ludivine came with us as Marc led the way. We drove to Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses to visit the Briare Canal and in particular the locks which were commissioned by Henry IV in 1604 and completed in 1642. It was by-passed in 1887 as it was not wide enough for the larger barges being used.

Marc, Jacqueline, Ludivine, Maria and Bryan, information board for the Locks on Briare Canal

Jacqueline and Maria beside the locks built between 1604 & 1642

Christopher thought this frog might be good for lunch, it was sitting in the bottom of the lock

We then drove to Briare to look at the Briare Aqueduct crossing the River Loire. It was built by Gustave Eiffel between 1890 & 1896. It is certainly a magnificent structure to look at, standing above the very wide and fast flowing River Loire.

A boat using the canal

Canal harbor from the bridge over the canal, the crossing is behind me

One of two houses on either side of the canal, houses for the canal guards

War monument over looking the Port du Plaisance, Briare

Ludivine pointing to the crue du (flood levels) 1846, 1856 & 1866 on the Harbor Masters office

On our return we passed this magnificent looking chateau, called Castle du Muguet. It is located in the town of Breteau, in south-eastern department of Loiret and the central region. The castle is famous for hosting the conference Briare penultimate meeting of the Allied Supreme Council in June 1940. The castle was built in 1863 in a neo-Louis XIII according to plans by architect Arthur Froelich.