Lock Houses and More, Burgundy, France

View from The Old Lock at Saint Jean de Losne during a walk 

The history of the French canals is long and complicated.  We spend a great deal of time on the Burgundy Canal so a little history is in order.  In 1607 a tax was placed on the local farmers to help finance a section of the canal between Saint Jean de Losne and Dijon.  Even so, it was a long time until construction started, with many events occuring in the interim.  It wasn't until 1696 that a study came out considering 5 different routes that could be used to connect the Saone and Yonne Rivers.  There were disagreements between civil engineers,  mayors who wanted the canal as close to their town as possible for the economic importance that trade would bring, and land owners hoping to cash in.  Construction didn't begin until 1775.  From the beginning there were strikes and political decisions regarding the future of the canal.  Even today there is debate as to the viability and use of the waterway.  Part of the original importance was being able to connect the Rivers Saone and Yonne which then connected to the River Seine.  

In order to complete the Burgundy Canal a tunnel needed to be built at the summit pond.  The tunnel was 10,932 feet long with 90% of the work done by hand.  It wasn't until December 28, 1832 that the first barge crossed the summit of the canal via the tunnel. Once completed the Burgundy Canal connected the north of France to the South. The River Seine via the River Yonne was now connected to the Rhone River via the Burgundy Canal and the Saone River.  The Burgundy Canal was 150 miles long with 189 locks and almost as many lock-houses.

In order to keep the canal operating it was necessary to have lock-keepers.  These people were housed along the canal at each lock.  Many of the lock houses were built at the same time or just after the completion of the canal.  

This is a small selection of what some lock-houses presently look like.  Today few of these houses have lock-keepers in them.  Instead people are able to rent these small homes.

Geese in Flight

Rabelo entering a lock.  Yes...believe it or not we do fit.

Fall along the canal with mistletoe clinging to the trees.

Peaceful Fall cruising

Lucky kids get to go kayaking after school

So many delicious choices.

Art along the canal

Resident artist/wood carver

This boater is serious about keeping his wood pile in good order

Tom thought he had found a friend until this donkey decided to try and take a chunk out of him.

Fall in France

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blog with your friends.

Lowbridgeeverybodydown.blogspot.com

Until the next time...
Lisa

More Time in Burgundy, France

Beautiful Charolais Cows

 We've been doing a lot of entertaining on Rabelo.  When we stay in one place for a while we meet people from around the world.  While hanging out at La Bussiere-sur-Ouche we met two couples who joined us for appetizers.  One couple was from Australia and the other from the US.  Every year these couples rent homes in the area of La Bussiere-sur-Ouche.  When we return to one of our favorite spots in France we look forward to sharing more good times, good food and good wine with our new friends.

I got carried away. This is what happens when I actually have time to spend in my kitchen.  And these were just appetizers. 

Our new Australian friends.

Our new American friends. 

 Bob and Kathi joined us on Rabelo.  Food is a recurring theme in our lives.

Visiting the market in Dijon is a special treat.  Locals and tourists alike crowd the aisles.

I was searching for a special cheese so we went to a beautiful cheese shop.  This was just one wall filled with an amazing selection.

A happy bride on her way to join her groom in Dijon.

 Next Patty and Larry joined us along with Bob and Kathi. It was a special week.

Time to load up at the local boulangerie.  They're having way too much fun!

Being food and wine lovers we went to Olivier Leflaive for their wine tasting lunch.  It's always a treat.

Innovative decorations outside a home.

Another cute decoration 

View along the Burgundy Canal during our walk.

Rabelo is happily moored at La Bussiere-sur-Ouche.

 The grapes have been picked and it's time for the vines to go dormant until next spring.  This is the magnificent Cote d'Or (Hills of Gold).  A wine lover's paradise.

Cote d'Or

 We love showing our friends the Abbaye de la Bussiere.  The grounds are magnificent.

Patty and Larry are getting acquainted with a Charolais cow created by artist Paul Day.

 In spite of the drought the grounds at the Abbaye are still beautiful.

Another sculpture by Paul Day that enhances the gardens of the Abbaye

Tom and I had a beautiful lunch at Abbaye de la Bussiere.  We started with a glass of bubbly to help set the mood.

Once our friends departed Tom went in for surgery.  Typical of pre-surgery preparation Tom needed a blood test.  The French do love their strikes!  The laboratory workers that draw blood were on strike.  They worked in the mornings but not afternoons.  They were there behind locked doors, but we could see them through the glass windows.  We knocked on the door, and then pleaded our case. They graciously drew his blood.  We happily signed the strike petition for them.

Sign declaring their strike.

This is Dijon's new private hospital.  It was impressive.  Clean, beautiful, efficient, and up to date.  Tom was in a private room for a few hours after surgery.  There was just enough space for his bed and a chair for me.  When they brought him a meal they even brought something for me to eat.

Tom is happily modeling the latest in surgical wear.

Tom is looking pretty chipper for someone about to have surgery.

 After Tom's surgery he was given instructions not to do any lifting. My days became busier.  We had to get Rabelo off the Burgundy Canal since it was closing due to the drought.  While preparing meals I also ran up and down the stairs at every lock to handle the aft line.

I'm handling the aft line in the locks.

I always love hearing from you so feel free to drop me a line any time.  You're welcome to share my blog with your friends.

Lowbridgeeverybodydown.blogspot.com

Until the next time...

Lisa

A Little More of Burgundy, France

It's a treat finding hiking off of the canals.

We spend a lot of time in Burgundy.  Since we love Burgundian wine it makes sense to go wine tasting when friends come to visit.  Of course we go wine tasting alone as well.  It's a matter of how full our wine cellar is at any given moment.  With Stephen and Marja in tow we returned to Domamine Lucien Jacob.  We had some of their wine left but no cremant (sparkling wine made outside of Champagne).  It seems every time we visit with Christine Jacob we learn something new about the art of growing grapes and making wine.

All those barrels of wine waiting for their time.

I think Marja and Stephen enjoyed the experience and the wine.

 We wanted to return to the Chateau Pierre-de-Breese.  This Chateau has been turned into an Ecomuseum.  The museum was created to show the history of the land, animals and people of the area.  The many displays depicted how the people lived, the animals that roamed the land,  as well as land usage.

The entrance to the chateau is impressive

Money is always an issue when it comes to maintaining these old chateau.  While some of the rooms have been repaired other areas have been left in a condition that allows visitors to see the challenges involved in keeping these buildings habitable.

This wall is in need of repair work.

A charming lock house

One of our favorite places that we continually return to is Chateauneuf-en-Auxois.  France is suffering from a terrible drought.  This photograph is a perfect example of the seriousness of what France is going through.  This is the first time we have ever seen these fields anything but a verdant green.

View from the Burgundy Canal looking up at Chateauneuf-en-Auxois

Chateauneuf

An old water pump

Picturesque old building with bright flowers 

 Because of the drought we didn't find the abundance of blackberries that normally grow on the road up to the Chateau

I still managed to pick a few blackberries.  They were delicious!

This sweetheart and I had a lovely visit

 Visiting the covered market in Dijon is a treat for all the senses.

Fish stand at the market in Dijon

Timbered building in Dijon

Back of an old church in Dijon

 The Museum of Fine-Arts has reopened after 10 years of major work.  The tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy are impressive and the star of the collection.  I am always impressed by the array of gilded alter pieces beautifully displayed.

One of the alter pieces.

Besides the permanent collection there is a temporary exhibition.  This time we saw paintings by the local artist Yan-Pei-Ming

Le Cri du Chien

Faded door

 We discovered a forest to walk in at Le Bussiere.  We were loving the new terrain (and gaining some altitude) until we heard the rifles of hunters not too far away.  So much for our peaceful hikes in the forest.  We decided to beat a hasty retreat and resume our walks along the canal.

Lovely forest for hiking 

It is a beautiful forest.  Unfortunately hunting season was starting soon and a few hunters decided to begin a little early

Three grand dames lined up at La Bussiere

Thank you for visiting my blog at Lowbridgeeverybodydown.blogspot.com

Please come by again.

Lisa