Marans-La Rochelle Canal

The Canal de Marans à La Rochelle, also known as Canal de Marans, Canal de Rompsay or Canal de La Rochelle depending on the location, is a French canal in the Charente-Maritime department that connects the city of La Rochelle with the town of Marans. It also links the Sèvre Niortaise river to the harbour at La Rochelle. The canal passes through the communes of Dompierre-sur-Mer, Andilly and Sainte-Soulle. It is 24.5 km long, with 4 locks, and has a total level change of 1.7 m. Its width is 5.2 m. The canal was built in the 19th century to promote trade between La Rochelle and Marans. It was part of a larger project to connect the Loire river to the Adour river via a North-South canal. Napoleon I ordered the project on 17 July 1805, with the goal of linking Niort to La Rochelle.