From Blanzy to Paray-le-Monial. Why is the Bourbince at its lowest?

I t is enough to linger for a few moments near the Bourbince River, right in the center of Paray-le-Monial, to hear the reactions of passers-by: "What's going on, why has the Bourbince almost disappeared?" Because that is the effect created by the very low water level of the river. Not far from the basilica, sandbanks appear in several places in the bed of the Bourbince, which only flows thanks to a narrow path.

The situation isn't just alarming tourists or locals: even experts and elected officials are struggling to explain the situation. Gilles Perrette, deputy mayor of Paray and vice-president of the Grand Charolais, is one example: "I'm 75 years old, and I've never seen the Bourbince like this! The level is exceptionally low." As vice-president of the Syndicat Mixte du Bassin Versant de la Bourbince, headquartered in Montceau, he's well-placed to keep an eye on the waterway: "I've already...

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