The hydraulic boat lifts of the Canal du Centre

Situated in the province of Hainaut, these 4 hydraulic lifts, built at the beginning of the XIXth century, are standing monuments to the Belgian Industrial revolution. These timeless masterpieces, listed by UNESCO, can be visited.

Creating a network of inland waterways in Belgium meant building a new section for the Canal du Centre, including the largest boat lift ever built and a 73.15 metres drop. Impressive to say the least!

There is much to discover during this visit:

• an impressive machine room,
• a movie explaining how the lift works,
• a panorama over the whole construction and the region,
• an exhibition presenting the fossils found during the project
• an exhibition on inland waterways (past and present)
• animated scale models
• interactive games
• as well as electric boat and bike rentals

A cruise on the canal and a visit of Strépy

This cruise, complete with historical commentary, takes you through the locks, boat lifts and swing bridges. A little train will drive you along the towpath, all the way at lift number 3 where you can visit the impressive machine room.