Elevator N°3
Elevator N°3 is a boat lift on the Canal du Centre that moves boats between different levels of the waterway using water pressure. Large cast iron gears and water-filled chambers inside the structure work together to raise and lower vessels, with the entire process taking about 28 minutes.
Construction began in 1888 after an engineer proposed a design based on English water pressure machines. The project faced delays due to World War I, but the lift was fully operational by 1919 and has continued working with much of its original 19th century machinery intact.
The name refers to its function as a lift for boats on the canal system. The site reflects how water and industry were once linked together in the region's daily life.
Arrive about 30 minutes early and buy tickets in advance, as boat capacity is limited and tours need a minimum group size. Wear comfortable shoes because the visit involves walking around the old structures and along the canal paths.
The lift was officially opened by King Leopold II in 1888 during a tense ceremony where protesters shouted slogans for liberty, reflecting the social tensions of the era. It remains one of the few hydraulic lifts still operating with much of its original 19th century machinery largely unchanged.
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