Champvert between cycling route and canal history

Champvert connects the cycling route along the Canal du Nivernais with structures whose history reflects different facets of the region. The Tour de Bourgogne à vélo follows a 120-kilometre cycling route along the canal between Champvert and Pousseaux, north of Clamecy in the direction of Yonne. Lock 33 and the Maison forte de Riegot add canal construction and architectural history as further themes.

Cycling along the Canal du Nivernais

The section between Champvert and Pousseaux is considered easy and has only slight changes in elevation. It can be completed with the family over three days, with stages of 40 kilometres each. Three equal daily stages add up to 120 kilometres in total. This clearly defines both the overall distance and how the route is divided. Together with its easy rating and slight changes in elevation, the cycling route can be viewed as a multi-day option with a specified stage length. If you want to plan your trip around the cycling itinerary, you can use these details as clear guideposts.

Lock 33 and the history of its bridge

The Pont sur l'écluse 33 du versant Loire, dite de Champvert, has its own construction history: in 1847, the work was awarded to replace the wooden bridge deck with a stone arch. The abutments and arch are made of rubble stone and dressed stone; the railings are modern and made of metal. The bridge can therefore be understood both through this historical intervention and through the different materials used in its components. The stonework and modern metal railings offer two distinct points of interest if you are interested in construction methods.

The Lock 33 site on the Bief 33

The Site de l'écluse 33 du versant Loire, dite de Champvert, is located on the Bief 33 of the Loire-side section of the Canal du Nivernais. The site includes a house, a lock and a washhouse. The named site therefore encompasses two buildings as well as the lock. The lock keeper’s house is rectangular and belongs to the Poirée type; its gabled roof has long roof slopes. These features give the house’s architecture its own focus within the site. Together, the lock, house and washhouse represent different parts of the lock site, while the lock keeper’s house offers a more specific architectural point of interest.

Maison forte de Riegot

The Maison forte de Riegot adds a different historical theme to the canal structures. It was built in the 15th century and altered in the 17th century. The dates distinguish the original construction period from a later alteration, rather than grouping both into a single era. The building is considered representative of the military and rural architecture of Nièvre at the end of the Middle Ages. This classification links it to late medieval architecture while also noting its later alteration in the 17th century. For your trip planning, the Maison forte therefore offers a different historical focus from the lock and the structures along the canal.

Discover more destinations: Marzy, Devay, Myennes, Billy-Sur-Oisy, Saint-André-En-Morvan, Dampierre-sous-Bouhy, Prémery, Crux-La-Ville.

Return to the regional travel overview: Nièvre.