Maconge: Sainte-Anne Church and Waterways

For planning a trip to Maconge, the parish church of Sainte-Anne and the historic waterways offer different points of interest. The church is notable for its former name and furnishings. The waterways are noteworthy for their feeder channels, their connection to the Canal de Bourgogne, and the technology behind navigation and the horse-drawn boat system.

Historic Waterways and Their Functions

The Rigole de Beaume crosses Maconge; the section that runs through the village was restored in 1893. The Rigole de Chazilly also crosses Maconge. It then feeds water into the canal at the watershed pound on the right bank of the Escommes reservoir. Water from the Chazilly reservoir also reaches the canal at the reservoir through a 7.6-kilometre feeder channel. These details illustrate the different functions of water engineering: feeder channels run through Maconge, while the feeder channel carries water from the reservoir to the canal.

Technology at Port d'Escommes and the Canal

Port d'Escommes has a rectangular basin. A barge with a winch system has been preserved there. The winch was used to reduce the draft of barges and make it easier for them to pass through the tunnel with the toueur. In this way, the winch’s technical purpose adds a practical connection to canal passage to the basin’s form.

Another example of the technical side of the Canal de Bourgogne is the hydroelectric power station. It was built in 1893 to supply the electricity needed for the horse-drawn boat system established by François-Marie Galliot. The gable of the power station also bears the construction date, 1893, and a carved bas-relief depicting a dynamo. Its purpose and design thus point to two aspects of the same building: supplying power to the horse-drawn boat system and depicting a dynamo.

Sainte-Anne Church

The parish church of Sainte-Anne dates from the late 15th or early 16th century and was formerly called Saint-Gengoux. Its furnishings include a range of motifs. On the rear wall of the choir is a carved coat of arms bearing the arms of Richard de La Palud and Philiberte de Rye. The front of the high altar features a relief depicting the Last Supper. The church’s former name provides a historical reference; the coat of arms and altar relief offer specific details about its furnishings.

Hiking Route and Time Required

The “Par rigoles et Canal de Bourgogne” hiking route follows the canal to Port d'Escommes and then continues to Maconge. It is 18.85 kilometres long and rated moderate; the average duration is 5 hours and 35 minutes. The total distance and the church’s route marker answer different planning questions: Maconge church is listed at kilometre 17.42 as point 15, while the total distance indicates the length of the full route. Trail conditions may change, so check them before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Vandenesse-En-Auxois, Vosne-Romanée, Saint-Philibert, Comblanchien, Auxey-Duresses, Marey-Lès-Fussey, Charencey, Maligny.

For the regional travel overview: Cote-Dor.