The slopping lock and the old canal

In 1968 the new section of the Canal Brussels-Charleroi was opened with a slopping lock capable of carrying ships up to 1350 tons up and down the hill. It replaced the old canal that had 14 locks in it.

Tower with viewing platform.

The old canal near Ronquieres.

Remains of a turn bridge in the old canal at Seneffe.

Lift bridge where the old canal connects to the new canal near Seneffe.

Entrance to the Godarville tunnel in the old canal. It now houses a population of bats.

About the inclined plane of Ronquieres

In the Brussels-Charleroi Canal there were in the past 14 locks. In 1968 a construction was made with 2 caissons on 1.4 km. rails that could carry a 1350 ton ship up and down the hill thus reducing a full day passage to only 50 minutes. A counterweight makes it possible to move the caissons independently. Water runs through a parallel pipeline and propels a turbine for the power supply so the whole thing is CO2 neutral.

When bicycling along the canal and looking around the structure I noticed there is very little movement of ships. The structure was made with the recent booming coal-mine and steel industry in mind. But to-day there's little need for cargo ships in the area. I talked to the owner of a passing yacht wandering if it would be expensive to make use of the boat-lift. "No", he answered,"You pay 50 euros and you can pass all the locks including this boat-lift in Belgium for a whole year." But he complained about the long waiting time. His boat was too small to make a single run. And when finally a cargo ship appeared, there was too little room left for his yacht.

Visit and excursions

At the top section there is a museum underneath the tower. You can make an audio-visial tour (also in English, German and in Dutch) and learn about the daily life of a boatman. You can watch a film about the making of the Slopping Lock, have a view in the engine room and anjoy the panorama from the tower. You can see Brussels in the distance on a clear day!

It's also possible to make a boat excursion.

Bike trip

The old canal between Ronquieres and Seneffe is still there, but partially filled in and no longer in use. The nature is very beautiful en although the towpath is at some places in bad shape you can make a bike-ride on it. A round trip along the old canal and the new canal is about 27 km.

Starting at the Slopping Lock you can walk uphill on the right side of the rails with the caissons. You go through the building at the top and continue along the canal. You cross the first bridge and continue on the left side of the canal. Near Seneffe you come at a short side canal that connects to the old canal. The route goes to the left along the canal towards Seneffe, but you can go across the old liftbrige and then turn left to see the entrance of the former Godarville tunnel. From Seneffe you follow the towpath along the canal and pass the 14 locks to Ronquieres where the old canal connects to the new canal.

Links

• Official website
• Ronquieres.org (French)
• Cycling the Ronquieres loop
• Bike rentals (French)
• Inside the Godarville Tunnel

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