Travel with Amateur Traveler · Saturday, July 11, 2026
The Briare Canal, which connects the Loire and Seine rivers, is France's second oldest canal, with much of it rebuilt in the 1800s from its original 1600s construction. The canal was initially dug by 6,000 to 12,000 laborers over nearly 40 years, starting in 1604, with troops needed to protect workers from nobles whose land was being confiscated.
“Last time we toured on the Canal de Midi, which is the oldest of the canals in France. The Briare Canal is the second oldest, although much of the canal has been rebuilt in the 1800s from the original canal in the 1600s.”
“The Briare Canal connects the Loire and the Seine. And it was built starting in 1604. It was hand-dug by between 6 and 12,000 laborers depending on what time period. Took almost 40 years to build.”
“And so they actually had to bring troops to protect the workers from the local nobles who were having land confiscated for the canal and did not want this canal to be built.”