Besançon

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Our route for today. The Rhone-Rhein canal is still using the Daubs river and the odd bit that’s been canalised
High cliffs on both sides of the valley with the odd little village at the base of them.

The cliff faces were polished in places by the movement of shifting glaciers thousands of year previously. It is a sensational bike trail and we are continually commenting on the beauty of the valley

Laissey. And it’s coffee stop time
Quatre grandes café s’il vous plaît
Deluz. Each weir and lock was also used for energy generation firstly by waterwheels and later by turbines making electricity. Consequently there was usually a factory and housing for the workers that sprung up around it.

A lot of chimneys still remain that were used in the generation of steam plants. the canal was dug out by prisoners in 1821. Iron and paper were the main industries.

Where the canal ran beside the river for a while, it eventually had to get down to river level again. Double locks were often used with the middle doors a massive 7metres high. This means they could get down from the canal 14 metres to the river level below with the two locks
On all the canals we have been on, provision has been made for wildlife to get across. Either by rocks dumped in or little ladders attached to the sides
A canoe slalom course has been built out there to make use of the weir
Besançon. Thé citadel is the first thing you see. A Vauban designed fort to protect the city from marauders. ( and English soccer hooligans )
You can see how the city is in the loop of the river. The fort is at the most narrow point
And under the fort the canal cuts through to the other side
It’s hot and we have to wait around until 3pm before they let us in

Gives us a chance to get groceries since we have a kitchen. ( and replace the underwear I left hanging on the lamp 2days ago)

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Published by Wallis Don

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