Saint-Laon

Saint-Laon was the birthplace of the Dive canal (begun in 1777 and completed in 1834). But the transport of wine, tufa and cereals did not last long on the latter. The commune of Saint-Laon was once home to a port. Merchants sailed down the Dive to sell their produce on typical boats, built especially for navigation on the canal. An example of a boat restored by a private individual can be seen near the bridge at the entrance to Pas-de-Jeu (79). For a long time, the Dive and its marshes, now planted with poplars, were one of the commune’s main resources. At the end of the 19th century, the peat was still being carbonised to make fertiliser. Your walks through the commune will take you to some very special places. There are plenty of routes for cyclists, hikers and horse riders to stroll, pedal, walk and wander…