The entire canal section features four hydraulic lifts built between 1888 and 1917, all of which remain in their original working condition.
The lift at Houdeng-Goegnies (N°3) was the last of the four to be completed, reflecting the evolution of hydraulic engineering during the late industrial period.
The total weight of a caisson is approximately 1,100 tons, balanced perfectly against its twin to allow for vertical movement.
The UNESCO designation includes the lifts, the canal, and the surrounding industrial landscape.
This technology, once common, is now extremely rare, with only a few such functional hydraulic lifts remaining worldwide.
Elevator N°3 is one of four historic hydraulic boat lifts located on the UNESCO-listed Old Canal du Centre in La Louvière, Belgium. Constructed in 1917, this mechanical lift utilizes a counterweight system of two water-filled caissons to raise or lower vessels by approximately 16.93 meters. It serves as a vital component of the industrial heritage network that connected the coal-rich Mons basin with the Scheldt and Meuse river valleys. The lift operates on the principle of communicating vessels, requiring no external mechanical power other than the movement of water between tanks. While no longer used for large-scale commercial shipping due to the construction of the modern Strépy-Thieu boat lift, the site is preserved as an industrial monument. Visitors can view the original iron riveted structure and complex valve mechanisms that facilitated 19th and early 20th-century inland navigation.
From the towpath directly in front of the lift basin for a symmetrical view of the caisson and the iron tower.
Walk the towpath between lifts N°1, N°2, N°3, and N°4 to appreciate the scale of the hydraulic engineering system.
Bring comfortable walking shoes as the area surrounding the canal is unpaved in sections.
Check the local canal authority website for boat transit schedules if you wish to see the lift in active operation.
Do not attempt to climb on the structural ironwork or enter restricted operational zones.
The lifts are primarily active for tourist boat traffic during the summer season and may be closed to the public during maintenance periods or winter months.
Stay behind safety barriers, as the mechanical parts of the lift are industrial-grade and potentially hazardous.
