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| For
centuries, the Loire river has been the route of
important trade exchanges. The goods were numerous:
coal, stones, lime, slates, corn, sugar, salt and,
of course, wine! |
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| Several
kinds of boats were built: barges of all kinds,
flatbottomed river barges, wine barges, salt barges,
gravel bank salvage barges, wash-houses, ferryboats,
scow or lighters, steamboats, and the extreme last
one the "bateau Nantais" |
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Nowadays they
appear to be slow but traps were numerous then:
bridges,sandbanks,tree trunks, driftings, islets,
watermills and so forth...
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Sailing down the river, boats
were often twinned. The current had to be overpowered.Mariners
constantly sound the water and follow the marked
out channel.
The deals that carried wood and coal were ripped
up when reaching destination.
Mariners then only sailed downstream and walked
back home.
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Sailing up the
river, navigation was of course slower. The fair
winds were welcome from Nantes to Orléans.
Lighters were tied in a train, with the "mother"
ahead, follows by the others and a hopper to finish
with.
Sailing upstream, hauling was compulsory. Strap-breasted
haulers used to draw the barges along levees and
towpaths.
At each port, the raftsman had to hire a new crew.
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| Organised
in confraternities, mariners used to be a very special
corporation, different from terrestrial ones and
they ceased every occasion to shock people by using
picturesque as well as insulting language. |
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musée
des deux marines
Musée
des Deux Marines et du Pont Canal
58 Bd Buyser - 45250 Briare
Tel. 02 38 31 28 27
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