Canal d'Entreroches, Historic canal ruins in Eclépens, Switzerland
The Canal d'Entreroches is a historic waterway that runs through the Mormont mountain range and connects two regions in canton Vaud. The original construction stretches across hills and valleys with a preserved lock and various canal sections still visible today.
A Breton engineer named Elie Gouret initiated construction in 1638 and completed the key section by 1648. The project was part of a much larger plan to link multiple waterways across Switzerland.
The waterway symbolizes a physical link between two distinct regions and reflects how people historically used water to connect places. Today you can still observe how the lock was constructed and understand how water once moved through this landscape.
You can explore the remaining canal sections through walking paths near Eclépens, with the northern area being particularly accessible. The best time to visit is during drier months when the ruins are clearer to see.
The ambitious Transhelvetian Canal project aimed to connect Swiss regions from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. This megaproject was never fully completed, but the Canal d'Entreroches stands as evidence of this once revolutionary vision.
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