Weilburger Schifffahrtstunnel, Canal tunnel in Weilburg, Germany
The Weilburg ship tunnel is a 195 meter passage carved through Mühlberg mountain, linking the upper and lower sections of the Lahn River for water transport. The passage ends at a double lock system that returns boats from the artificial waterway back to the natural river flow.
Built between 1844 and 1847, the tunnel bypassed a 2 kilometer river bend with two weirs that slowed transport. This engineering achievement made the waterway faster and more reliable for commercial traffic.
The Latin inscription at the north portal honors Duke Adolph of Nassau, who commissioned this waterway project. The carved stone shows how valued this passage was for regional trade and governance.
Visitors paddle through the tunnel by canoe or kayak, experiencing a narrow and dark passage that requires attention. The ceiling is low in places, so keeping your head down is essential for safe passage.
The tunnel is part of a larger complex that includes parallel railway and road passages through the same mountain. This triple corridor demonstrates how the 1800s engineered three different transport modes to pass through the hillside together.
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