Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The canal of Lalinde, 15 km long, was dug between 1838 and 1843 under the direction of engineer Pierre Vauthier to bypass the dangerous rapids of the Dordogne, such as those of the Grand Thoret or the Gratusse. This project, decided in 1837 and financed by the State, aimed to secure river transport between Mauzac and Tuilières, despite the costs deemed excessive by King Louis-Philippe I. The canal, equipped with nine locks and several bridges, became operational in 1844, marking the beginning of intense whaling activity until the Second World War.

Among the remarkable works of the canal, the canal and the bridge-diverway of the Villeneuve Tuilery, located in Sauvebouf near Lalinde, allow the creek of Drayaux to pass under the canal. This collection, which was listed as a historical monument in 1996, illustrates the ingenuity of 19th century hydraulic techniques. The canal traversed six villages and included infrastructure such as lockhouses, dovecotes, and a refit basin, reflecting its economic role for local industries (mills, stationery).

Despite railway competition from 1879, the canal remained in use until the middle of the 20th century. In 1926, its decline began with the abolition of the airworthiness of the Dordogne upstream of Saint-Pierre-d-Eyraud. In 1964, a tragic accident during the Tour de France in Port-de-Couze led to the partial use of the canal. Since 1992, its management has been entrusted to the Union intercommunal du canal de Lalinde, which has restored certain sections, such as that between Port-de-Couze and Saint-Capraise-de-Lalinde, reopened to navigation in 2014.

The local legend evokes a monster, the coulobre of Lalinde, supposed to haunt the rapids of the Gratusse before the construction of the canal. This dragon, killed by Saint Front according to tradition, symbolized the dangers of the river before its development. Today, the canal, although partially sanded or modified, remains a testament to the industrial and river heritage of the region, with increasing tourism potential.

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