Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane, Maritime transportation system in Saint-Louis, France.
The Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane is a boat lift on the Rhine-Marne Canal that moves vessels up and down a sloped track. The system uses a water-filled platform that travels on rails, carrying boats gently over the terrain change without needing traditional locks.
The system opened in 1969 and replaced a long series of locks that had slowed boats throughout the day. This modernization allowed vessels to pass through the hilly region much more rapidly than before.
This structure represents 20th-century industrial engineering and draws people curious about how technology shapes transportation. It stands as a symbol of how infrastructure connects regions and makes movement between them possible.
Visitors can watch the system operate from May through September and observe boats passing through. The best time to watch is during operating hours when vessels arrive and the platform slowly travels up and down the slope.
The system works through water counterweights that balance as the platform moves up or down. It transports up to 39 boats daily, with each journey taking roughly four minutes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
