Located in the heart of the city center, the port of Roanne is a quiet place appreciated by all Roanne residents and tourists. As an extension, the Canal de Roanne à Digoin allows all nature lovers to enjoy an original setting on foot, by bike or by boat. The essential stopover in the discovery of the city of Roanne.
How can you discover the canal?
- Walk : The Port and the canal are starting points for marked walks. Hiking is a very common activity in the Roannais. You will find in a free guidebook, the 2 circuits starting from the canal: "The Trivial circuit" to discover the city center of Roanne and "the path of the edges of the Loire" which goes to Mâtel gravel pits.
- By bike : The canal is also the start of the Veloire, cycle route - greenway. It allows you to reach Briennon in the north then the Saône-et-Loire and, in the south, Montrond-les-Bains. It joins Eurovélo 6.
- Boat : 2 options are available to you: electric boats and barge cruises. In Roanne, you can rent small electric boats without a license! Ideal for discovering as a family how a lock works and learning the basics of navigation.
![Le port de plaisance de Roanne]()
Roanne marina © Roannais Agglomeration ![Port de plaisance de Roanne]()
Roanne marina © Gil Lebois / ADT42
The Port and the Canal historically commercial district
The Port district, long known as the lower town, experienced tremendous growth in the XNUMXth century.e and brings together a whole population whose work was focused on the traffic of the river. The Loire at this time, formed 2 arms in its crossing of Roanne! The Rambertes and the Sapines transported goods (coal, wine) to Paris.
The Loire, with the irregularity of its flow, subjected the traffic to the vagaries of the river and was therefore not navigable all year round.
In the nineteenthe century, the development of industry requires a reliable means of transport. In 1827, we decided to dig a canal of 55 kilometers going from Roanne to Digoin in Saône et Loire. It will be put into service in 1838.
The barges delivered raw and spun cotton to Roanne, sand from Fontainebleau and left loaded with coal from Saint-Étienne, Eaux de Saint-Galmier, bricks and tiles from local production...
Expanded to the Freycinet size in 1905, at its peak in 1938, it saw 3 boats carrying a total of 217 tonnes of freight.
in XXe century, the competition of the rail then of the road will lead to the decline of the river transport and therefore of the port of Roanne. It will be closed to commercial traffic in 1992.
Key figures
The canal from Roanne to Digoin on the Loire department side is:
- 3 locks: Roanne, Cornillon and Briennon,
- 20 bridges,
- 6 canal bridges.
![Un moment de calme à Roanne]()
Roanne marina © Evelyne Deveaux ![Un moment de calme au bord de l'eau à Roanne]()
Roanne marina © Evelyne Deveaux
Today the port of Roanne is a real place of life
The 90s allowed the port to be rehabilitated into a marina.
Today, the port is a quiet stopover in the city center of Roanne! This is the way to “shift into lower gear” during a walk or bike ride. The port invites relaxation and recreation. Throughout the year, events animate it.
The port is also services for you, visitors:
- Bike rental,
- Rental of electric boats to navigate on the canal,
- 100 boat pitches,
- Reception by the harbor master's office for all information and provision of various services: water, electricity, showers and toilets,
- Mooring: floating or fixed concrete pontoons, on catways or bollards,
- Service area and parking for motorhomes, reception for one or more nights.
In winter, the port welcomes around a hundred boats with French and foreign guests alike who stay in their strange “house” for part of the year. In summer, boaters stop there.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Roanne is the most inland port in France with a basin 800 meters long and 80 meters wide!
The quiet canal
Le Roanne canal in Digoin is today a real asset for Roanne tourism! An exceptional spot where you choose cool, quiet mode or active mode with all the activities offered.
Roanne residents and tourists have a unanimous opinion: there is a holiday air over the port and the canal. A timeless, peaceful moment! The Quai Commandant de Lherminier and its restaurants also allow you a gourmet break with even a floating restaurant!
TOURIST INFORMATION
