| Canal de Saint-Quentin | |
| Canal Length: | 92.5km (57.5miles) |
| Max Boat Length: | 38.5m (126.3feet) |
| Max Boat Beam: | 5.05m (16.57feet) |
| Min Boat Draft: | 2.2m (07.2feet) |
| Min Boat Air Draft: | 3.5m (11.5feet) |
| Current Num Locks: | 35 |
| Total Rise: | 43 m |
| Status: | Open |
| Former Names: | Canal Crozat or Canal de Picardie between Chauny and Saint-Simon, in 1738 |
| Present Owner: | Voies Navigables de France |
| Engineer: | Original engineer named Devicq in 1727. Died in 1742. |
| Other Engineer: | Revised plan by Laurent de Lyonne. Work began in 1768. |
| Date Completed: | 1810 |
| Start Point: | Canalised Escaut River (Scheldt) in Cambrai |
| End Point: | Chauny |
| Begin Coord: | 50.1765°N 3.2217°W |
| End Coord: | 49.6081°N 3.2253°W |
| Connects To: | |
The Canal de Saint-Quentin (in French pronounced as /kanal də sɛ̃ kɑ̃tɛ̃/) is a canal in northern France connecting the canalised river Escaut in Cambrai to the Canal latéral à l'Oise and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne in Chauny.
The canal was built in two phases, the second much longer than the first. The king's ministers Colbert and Mazarin had both proposed linking the rivers Oise and Somme in the 17th century and this resulted in the Canal Crozat, or Canal de Picardie, between Chauny and Saint-Simon in 1738. The remainder, connecting the Seine Basin with the Escaut was a lengthy process. The original designer, Devicq in 1727, died in 1742. Little was accomplished until Napoléon demanded that work begin again in 1801. He officiated at the opening in April 1810.[1]
The canal was such a success that the locks had to be duplicated throughout in the early 20th century, at the same time deepening the channel, enlarging the tunnels, and increasing water supplies. Later improvements included electric barge traction on rails, installed during World War I, mechanising locks, and providing public lighting on the busiest sections. Later, the locks were equipped for automatic operation, using remote sensors, and more recently by handheld remote control. By 1878, up to 110 barges were crossing the summit level daily. The Canal du Nord was built as a duplicate route and completed in 1965. The canal carried more freight than any other man-made waterway in France in 1964.[1]
See main article: Battle of St. Quentin Canal. The Canal in World War I formed part of the Hindenburg Line, a German defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917. The Allied crossing of the St Quentin Canal in 1918 was a significant part of the Hundred Days Offensive that led to the Armistice.
This canal is an asset for tourism, boating and on the towpath, especially the northern section in the Escaut valley, the spectacular summit level with its tunnels and the boat harbour in the basin at Saint-Quentin. Commercial traffic declined after opening of the Canal du Nord, and it is now consistently quiet and peaceful, although a few Freycinet barges still use this route.[2]