The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs, La Louvière and Le Roeulx (Hainaut) in Belgium

Facts and Data

Webpages:
Official Unesco Page
View photos from OUR PLACE the World Heritage collection
Service public de Wallonie - DGO4 - Département du Patrimoine (In French)
Le Canal du Centre (French only)
Le canal du Centre et ses ascenseurs a bateaux (French only|)

Basis Data:
Unesco World heritage since: 1998
Size of heritage: 67 ha
- Buffer zone: 539 ha

Coordinates:
Longitude: 4,137°
Latitude: 50,481°

Summary

The four hydraulic boat-lifts on this short stretch of the historic Canal du Centre are industrial monuments of the highest quality. Together with the canal itself and its associated structures, they constitute a remarkably well-preserved and complete example of a late-19th-century industrial landscape. Of the eight hydraulic boat-lifts built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, the only ones in the world which still exist in their original working condition are these four lifts on the Canal du Centre.

Location on Map

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The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs, La Louvière and Le Roeulx (Hainaut)

The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs, located in La Louvière and Le Roeulx in the Hainaut province of Belgium, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This remarkable engineering marvel consists of four hydraulic boat lifts that were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to overcome the difference in elevation along the Canal du Centre.

The Canal du Centre, constructed between 1882 and 1917, was a vital transportation route connecting the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. However, the canal faced a significant challenge due to the steep slope between the upper and lower sections. To solve this problem, the Four Lifts were designed and constructed, making it possible for boats to navigate the canal without the need for locks.

The four lifts, named Ascenseur n°1, Ascenseur n°2, Ascenseur n°3, and Ascenseur n°4, were each built at different times and locations along the canal. Ascenseur n°1, located in La Louvière, was the first to be completed in 1888. It was followed by Ascenseur n°2 in 1917, Ascenseur n°3 in 1918, and Ascenseur n°4 in 1919, both located in Le Roeulx.

These boat lifts were a significant technological achievement at the time of their construction. They were designed by the Belgian engineer Edwin Clark and implemented by the Société des Ascenseurs Hydrauliques du Canal du Centre. The lifts operate using a counterweight system, where two caissons, or water-filled tanks, are connected by cables. When one caisson is filled with water, the other is emptied, allowing boats to be lifted or lowered between the different levels of the canal.

Today, the Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs are not only a testament to the ingenuity of engineering but also a symbol of industrial heritage. The lifts have been meticulously preserved and restored, allowing visitors to experience the unique engineering feat firsthand.

Visitors to the site can explore the lifts and their surrounding areas, which include picturesque landscapes, historic buildings, and industrial remnants. The lifts themselves are impressive structures, with their iron frameworks and towering presence. The surrounding areas offer opportunities for leisurely walks, cycling, and boat trips along the canal.

Address
Distance: 2,5 mi
rue de Belle-Vue
7100 La Louvière
Belgium

Time Information

Checkout: 11:00 - Checkin: 14:00
Reception
Weekday: 0:00 - 24:00
Weekend: 0:00 - 24:00

Videos from the area

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Published: September 12, 2010
Length: 10:54 min
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Author: Rik de Boer

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Length: 58:02 min
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Published: April 06, 2015
Length: 00:00 min
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Author: Julien Joly

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Published: December 22, 2011
Length: 48:22 min
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