Fontinettes boat lift, Hydraulic boat lift in Arques, France.
The Fontinettes boat lift in Arques is a transport structure with two massive containers, each weighing around 792 tonnes, connected by hydraulic pistons for vertical movement of vessels. The system replaced an older lock arrangement on the Canal de Neufossé and works through a balanced weight shift between the two chambers.
The structure was built between 1885 and 1888 and replaced an earlier system of five locks on the Canal de Neufossé. This change cut ship transit time from roughly 90 minutes to just a few minutes.
The structure shows French engineering expertise from the 19th century, designed by Edwin Clark and M. Bertin. The metal components came from a renowned French industrial company known for its manufacturing skill.
The site is currently closed to individual visitors, but groups can book guided tours that include the repair workshop and towpath areas. It helps to check ahead about tour availability and how long visits typically take.
The lift operates on a clever weight-balancing principle where only about 64 tonnes of water need to be added to the upper chamber to enable the exchange between the two containers. This simple principle makes it a remarkable example of intelligent hydraulic engineering from the 19th century.
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