Les-Sept-Écluses, Historical lock system in Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, France.
Les-Sept-Écluses is a lock system of seven consecutive chambers built on a steep slope to overcome a height of about 24 meters. The structure uses stone and lock gates to control water flow step by step from one chamber to the next.
The structure was built between 1604 and 1642 under King Henry IV and Minister Sully as an ambitious water transport project. It operated for centuries and shaped how France managed inland waterway navigation.
The locks carry a name rooted in French royal history and show how people in the 1600s managed water flow to move boats uphill. The site speaks to an era when controlling rivers was crucial for commerce and connection.
The site is open year-round with free parking available at the base of the structure. Visitors can view the system from the outside and walk up the stairs to see each lock from different angles.
The system was so complex that boats took many days to pass through, which eventually led to its closure in 1887 as technology changed. Today the site shows how intricate early water transport engineering had to be.
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