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The small village of BRIARE , 10km from Gien on the Orleans-Nevers road and the Paris-Nevers rail line, centres on its Belle Epoque iron aqueduct, the Pont Canal , linking the Canal de Briare to the north with the Canal Lateral a la Loire, which runs south to the Saone. The design of the Pont Canal came from the workshops of Gustav Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, but parts of the canal scheme date back to the early seventeenth century, when internal waterways linking the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Channel coasts were devised. You can walk along the aqueduct's extraordinary 625-metre span, with its wrought-iron crested lamps and railings, hopefully without a bateau-mouche spoiling the effect. The tourist office , 1 place Charles-de-Gaulle (daily 10am-noon & 2-5pm; tel 02.38.31.24.51, fax 02.38.37.15.16), can provide details of canal boats and canoe rental as well as maps of footpaths, towpaths and the locks (the one at Chatillon-sur-Loire, 4km upstream, is particularly appealing). For accommodation , try the modern Hotel le Canal at 19 rue du Pont-Canal (tel 02.38.31.24.24, fax 02.38.31.92.12; 220-300F/?34-46), right next to the bridge.
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