Etangs de Strépy, canal du center historique, canal bridge and the Strépy-Thieu lift (UNESCO)

The lifts on the canal du centre historique are UNESCO world heritage ( link to the Unesco site ) . In 2002 they were put out of service due to the opening of the Strépy-Thieu lift and the Sart canal bridge.

Those interested in war and industrial heritage can even make a nice day trip of it. After 8 km there is already Brasserie Le chalet des étangs , after 16 km at L a Cantine des Italiens you can rent electric boats and sail on the canal and after 26 km the boat lift of Strépy-Thieu is even worth a visit.

Start at the parking lot at Place Hardat in Thieu. A memorial wagon recalls one of the mining disasters that the coal region experienced. Junction 15 is located at the bottom of the RAVEL along the canal.

We drive along the canal and pass the George Price Memorial which commemorates the last fallen soldier of the Commonwealth who died 2 minutes before the ceasefire was declared. Passing Havré and Maurage we reach Les Etangs de Strépy. A nice place for a stopover to have a picnic or visit the brasserie.

We now continue our journey and almost arrive back at the starting point where ascenseur no. 4 is located, the first of the 4 historic lifts that we will pass, but the last to be built.

We now follow the canal du centre historique and pass some unique drawbridges. A little further lies the impressive boat lift no. 3 of Strépy-Bracquegnies with its beautiful outbuildings.

We pass ship lift no. 2 which is only a few hundred meters beyond the previous one. We also have to bridge the height difference ourselves.

We continue to drive close to the canal and still have the possibility for a stopover in La Cantine des Italiens where a small museum is located. Those who want to make a day trip of it can rent and drive an electric boat themselves to sail in this historical environment.

The cycle tour continues to Ascenseur no. 1, the first lift that was built and tested to see if the system was well constructed. It was inaugurated in 1888. The fact that it would take until 1919 before the canal became fully operational is partly due to the weakened subsoil due to mining. And knowing that Napoleon I had already decided to build the canal in 1810.

We now arrive at the new section of the Canal du Centre. Among other things, the Passerelle Safea reminds us of the rich industrial past.

3 New constructions have modernised the canal and brought it into the 21st century . We pass the Blanc Pain lock , where the water can be held back in case of emergency, the impressive Sart canal bridge and of course the cream of the crop: the Strépy-Thieu boat lift, with a height of 73.15 metres one of the highest boat lifts in the world, which can lift ships of up to 1,350 tonnes from the bottom to the top (or vice versa) in 7 minutes.

Be sure to also consult the information about the sights once you are there . They will explain what you will see!

08/2024