Other canals in FranceNederlandse versieCanal de Berry
The Canal de Berry can be divided into three branches. In the center 'la Fontblisse' is situated, a hamlet at about 25 kilometer eastern of Saint Amand-Montrond in the Cher department. From la Fontblisse branches run to the west, to the north and to the south. The southern branch runs along the river Cher along St Amand to Montluçon, the western branch runs along the rivers Auron, Yèvre en Cher along Bourges and Vierzon and the northern branch is connected to Canal latéral à la Loire in the neighborhood of Nevers. 
The canal is more narrow than any of the other canals in France I have seen. It could only be used by a special type of boat, the so called berrichons. The locks are only 2,70 meters wide and have a length of 27,75 meters.

The canal is constructed between 1811 and 1834
We start our survey of the Canal de Berry in La Guerche-sur-l’Aubois which is situated south of Nevers. We find the canal easily with the Michelin-map. We are crossing the narrow canal by a little bridge. We don't see a lock. On the left side we see a high bridge where the railway crosses the canal. The canal is very arrow under the passage. On both sides of the channel a towpath is situated.

We decide to walk in the opposite direction first. Maybe we will find a lock just around the corner. I haven't the slightest idea where the locks are situated. The banks of the canal are well maintained here but maybe that's  because of the Hotel the Ville which is situated at the opposite side of the canal.

Alas, we don't find a lock around the corner. We walk back and try the opposite direction. When we have passed the corner behind the railway bridge, indeed we see a little lock. It looks great from a distance!
Just behind a little bridge we see the gates. They are made of wood. The shelves are fixed diagonally. Because the lock is only very narrow, one gate at each side of the lock is sufficient. I don't see any water in the watercourse at the high side of the lock. The watercourse is completely overgrown.

A tide-gauge at the wall of the lock is completely useless. We meet a woman who pushes her very old mother in a wheelchair. They are standing still on the bridge. We speak to them: "We love the French canals very much." That's the beginning of a nice conversation. The woman tells us she lived along the canal as a little girl. Together with the little girl of the lockkeeper she used to lift with the barges though the lock and they navigated some distance on it until they reached her house. She thinks it's a pity the canal isn't used any more. She also thinks it's a shame the canal isn't maintained. At this side of the lock the fishing club is taking care of the canal but at the other side of the lock nature takes her own course. Trees are growing in the watercourse and snakes and other creepy animals are living there. She has heard of plans to make a cycling path along the canal but so far nothing had happened.
She also tells us new people live in the lockkeepers house since half a year. They have renewed the sign on the wall which mentions the distances to the next villages.
I ask about the next lock. This lock, called  Faguin, is situated at about two kilometers distance in the direction of Sancoins. It's situated just outside the village near an old watermill. We drive to it and notice that the old lock has fallen into decay. The lockkeepers house in contrary looks very pleasing.
Then we drive on to the south. At the village Augny-sur-Aubois the Canal de Berry cuts deeply through the hilly landscape. Here a so called tranchée is situated. They are doing repair works at the water-sides. It looks as if they are making a cycling path. The water in the canal isn't much more than a scanty little stream. An unpleasant smell is rising from it.
We drive south with the car and arrive in Saint-Amand Montrond, a fairly big city. In this city a magnificent Cistercian abbey is situated, l’abbaye de Noirlac.
From St-Amand we drive on in the direction of Montluçon. We cross the Canal de Berry again. Just on this spot they have created a roundabout above the canal. A few kilometers outside of Amand, I find what I am looking for: a canal bridge across the river Cher. It looks promising from a distance. As we have reached the canal bridge, it appears that there isn't any water in the canal bridge. We go down to the Cher and sit some while at the banks of the river. From here we have a wonderful sight at the old canal bridge.
The Cher isn't transporting much water at the moment. Only at one of the thoroughfares between the piers of the canal bridge, water is flowing down by a little cascade . We see a little light blue rowing boat moored at one of the banks of the Cher.
When I have climbed up again I look at some details. In an old mooring-mast the tracks of the ropes of the barges still can be seen. At the background the empty watercourse of the canal. No rising vegetation in the watercourse this time but a nice trimmed turf.
Some days later I take a look at the canal somewhat more to the south. I find the Canal de Berry  again and notice the different manners the counties take care of the canal. Sometimes the canal looks as if it can be used again tomorrow but in Vallon en Sully they have constructed sport fields on top of the course of the canal. Some kilometers tot the North a hamlet called Queugne is situated. I find easily a canal bridge and the only double lock of the canal (La Queune).
A lot of activities must have been here in earlier days. I can see it by the surrounding. At both sides of the canal some houses are situated. They have been festively decorated with flowers.
The watercourse in the canal bridge is empty but at the other (low) side of the lock the canal is filled. The double lock is in moderate condition. Two out of three gates are still present. On this place also some bureaucratic formalities had to be fulfilled. Above a door I can still see the sign with the words ‘Bureau de Statistique’.
The canal bridge crosses a little brooklet. The road is even running through the watercourse of the brooklet. The canal bridge itself has two arches made of bricks. Curiously the canal ridge is widened again into the Freycinet measures while the lock still has its original measures.

I take some pictures of characterizing details: the sign above the door of the lockkeepers house, a draw-well, a water exhaust, an iron mooring-mast which can be found at all locks  and a gauging-rod at the chamber wall of the lock.

 

 

I also take a look at a lock called Grandfond which is situated north of la Queune. The lock gate is hanging warped in its hinges. But through the opening I can have a look on the canal as  it was before the date of Januari  3th.1955, as the canal was declassed.