Canal de la Robine / de Jonction
Information about the 37km of canal from the Canal du Midi to Port la Nouvelle, on the Mediterranean coast. The canal - properly called the Embranchement de la Nouvelle - consists of three sections. The oldest, constructed in 1686 (altered subsequently) following the success of the Midi, is the gently winding Canal de la Robine that passes through Narbonne northwards to the River Aude. A century later the straight 5km Canal de Jonction, bordered by umbrella pines, made the connection with the Midi itself, via a short 800m traverse of the river.
There are 7 closely-spaced ecluses on the Jonction and 6 ecluses on the Robine, all oval-shaped. That at Salleles is the deepest and trickiest (ascending). All the ecluses are automated; crew will generally need to go on ahead to press the appropriate buttons on the lock-side control panel.
See also general notes (foot of page).
Basic Information
- Approximate minimum depth 1.50m, headroom 3.3m, width 5.45m. These are the 'book' values and may vary according to conditions. At its final junction with the harbour at Port la Nouvelle, underneath the bridge there, depths may reduce significantly.
- The canal carries virtually no commercial traffic.
- The speed limit is 8kph, 3kph past moored boats.
PK0 Canal du Midi Junction
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Ecluse and footbridge at the junction with the Canal du Midi. |
PK3 Salleles
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Sallèles d'Aude is a small, pretty village with quayside moorings (04 68 46 92 09) and a range of facilities. There is also the European patchwork centre and Amphoralis, a museum of ancient pottery that holds regular firings in the traditional manner. The ecluse is deep and tricky, coming up ('slidey poles' at extreme ends).
PK5 Gailhousty
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A beautiful ecluse and building group, classified as being of hstoric and architectural importance and built in 1780 not only as a lock, lock-keeper's house and administrative offices, but also as a spillway or sluice in connection with the Etang de Capestang, works not completed before the Revolution forced a halt.
To one side is a dry dock, available for hire. Contact the VNF office by the ecluse at Salleles (04 68 46 92 09). The cost is 3€ per day including water and electricity; it is popular and booked well ahead.
Aude Crossing
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The photo above is taken looking upstream, from the Robine junction; the Jonction enters from the right beyond the bridge. It is important not to 'cut the corner' to/from the Jonction - there are shallows.
PK15 Narbonne
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Narbonne has an ancient history and was an important sea-port until silting effectively pushed the coastline ever further away. It has long had river and/or canal access to the sea, since the 17thC this has meant the Canal de la Robine (the canal's Roman name). It is a very pleasant and significant town, with all facilities including a main-line railway station. We recommend a visit to the Archbishop's palace and its Donjon tower.
It is consequently a popular place for plaisanciers to visit and stay at, especially over the winter; temperatures remain warm although the occasional strong winds can be less pleasant.
PK14 Gua - Below the ecluse there is a long stretch of (quiet and safe) quayside moorings with water and electricity. Hire boat base. Although slightly 'out of town' (5-10 minute walk) we think this is the best location.
PK15 Narbonne - From the town ecluse the canal passes under a unique bridge with buildings on top - the arch looks smaller than it actually is (3.3m air draft). Beyond that, there are numerous quayside moorings - contact the Hotel de Ville in the main square. Tel: 04 68 90 30 30.
PK35 Port-la-Nouvelle
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Click here for information about Port la Nouvelle.
Notes
Grehan very much welcomes your comments, corrections, suggestions and additions.
PK = Kilometre distance mark, as printed in waterway guides and found as actual signposts (occasionally) on the waterways.
PdP = Port de Plaisance (inland pleasure port/marina/mooring). Halte (nautique) = mooring place/pontoon. Ecluse (Sas in Normandy - 'sas' means 'chamber') = lock. Peniche = barge.
TE (tirant d'eau) = Depth. Check actual depths! The 'book' canal depth is in the channel centre, edges will be less and you may have a problem coming alongside so be careful. Tuck your nose in first and if necessary keep the stern (where the vulnerable prop is) poking out. There is often a shallow bar just outside the lower gate of an ecluse.
VNF SINGLE NUMBER - The VNF have introduced a nationwide single telephone point of access for making lock arrangements, etc and notify breakdowns and other emergencies - 0800 863 000 - you will almost certainly need to understand and speak a certain amount of French.
Contact Grehan >top of page<This is an information guide - it is not a substitute for a waterways pilot book, nor is it meant to be. We strongly recommend obtaining a pilot book for each river or canal you travel. The information here results from direct personal experience cruising the waterways from north to south and east to west; and/or has also been gleaned from a number of sources and accounts. Photographs by Grehan; some other photographs by permission, or in the public domain; if we have inadvertently breached any copyrights, please contact us. Grehan's own photographs may be available for re-use, please contact us for permission.
