Summary
Information about the 31km (+10km) long canalised river Isle
The Isle was formerly canalised over a distance of about 144km upstream from its confluence with the Dordogne at Libourne to the town of Périgueux. However, all the structures were abandoned after the decline of commercial navigation, leaving only the tidal navigation, covering a distance of 31km from Libourne to the first lock (lock 40) at Laubardemont.
In recent years the lowest three locks have been restored, and are regularly used by a trip-boat. This development adds 10km to the previously navigable length, up to the weir and lock at La Pauillade, but in the absence of formal arrangements for maintaining and operating the waterway, private boats are unfortunately not allowed to use this length for the time being. Further restoration is nonetheless projected, inspired no doubt by the success of the river Lot, the eventual aim being to restore the river navigation up to the historic limit of navigation at Périgueux. For convenience, the distance table is given working upstream from the Dordogne.
It should be noted that the possibility of mooring at most of the quays indicated in the distance table depends on the state of the tide.
Essentials
Key Waterway Dimensions
- Max Beam: 5.20m
- Max Height: 3.80m
- Max Draught: 0.30m-0.80m
Navigation
Locks – The lock at Laubardemont is 30.00m long by 5.20m wide. It is operated by the trip boat crew only.
Draught – There is a depth of 0.30m at low water neap tides rising to between 0.80 and 1.60m at high water neap tides (at the current limit of navigation at Laubardemont). The maximum authorised draught in the canalised river is 1.40m.
Headroom – The fixed bridges leave a clear headroom of 8.20m at low water neaps, reduced to 3.80m at high water neaps (more restricted dimensions on the canalised river).
Towpath – There is no towpath.
Authority
VNF – Direction territoriale du Sud-Ouest
– 61 cours des Girondins, 33500 Libourne
Details+Map
Route description
PK 0.0 Confluence with Dordogne (PK 75)
PK 0.7 Libourne bridge, quay u/s l/b, pontoon moorings d/s l/b, town centre 700m
PK 3.4 Motorway bridge (A89)
PK 4.1 Motorway bridge (A89)
PK 5.5 Motorway bridge (A89)
PK 7.6 Saillans r/b, village 1200m
PK 11.3 Bridge (D18)
PK 16.6 Savignac-de-l’Isle bridge, quay d/s r/b, village 400m r/b
PK 20.7 Saint-Denis-de-Pile bridge, quay and village l/b
PK 22.1 Quays l/b (Fleix)
PK 28.1 Bridge (D901e1, Guîtres bypass)
PK 28.6 Guîtres bridge, quay and village r/b
PK 31.1 Lock 40 (Laubardemont), in 650 m lock-cut, head of tidal navigation, Coutras 2500m u/s on Dronne (light craft only)
PK 31.6 Bridge, disused factory r/b
PK 31.8 End of lock-cut, Isle weir on r/b, bridge (D674)
PK 33.0 Railway bridges (Paris-Bordeaux main line)
PK 34.8 Abzac bridge (D17), village 700m l/b, Coutras 1800m r/b
PK 35.1 Lock 39 (Abzac) in short cut r/b, weir
PK 38.6 Lock 38 (Penot) in short lock-cut r/b, weir
PK 41.1 Lock 37 (La Pauillade) in short lock-cut r/b, weir current limit of navigation (trip boat only)
Guides+Downloads
Getting Full Details – Downloads, Navigation Guides, IWF Book and Map
PDF Downloads – with additional detail
Download this waterway’s information (including extra detail) as a PDF document (click lefthand icon) or download it included in a complete set of all the waterways in this region (click righthand icon).
Navigation Guides
When piloting a boat on this waterway we strongly recommend using the appropriate Breil (click lefthand) printed navigation guide for this waterway. It includes large-scale maps of the complete route with moorings, locks, depths, bridges, hazards and other directly useful ‘at the helm’ information.
22.00€Add to basket
