The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information The four hydraulic boat-lifts on this short stretch of the historic Canal du Centre are industrial monuments of the highest quality Together with the canal itself and its associated structures they constitute a remarkably well-preserved and complete example of a late-19th-century industrial landscape Of the eight hydraulic boat-lifts built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century the only ones in the world which still exist in their original working condition are these four lifts on the Canal du Centre Les quatre ascenseurs hydrauliques pour bateaux regroupés sur un court segment de l’historique canal du Centre constituent des monuments industriels de la plus haute qualité Avec le canal lui-même et ses structures associées ils offrent un exemple remarquablement bien préservé et complet d’un paysage industriel de la fin du XIXe siècle Des huit ascenseurs hydrauliques à bateaux édifiés à cette époque et au début du XXe siècle les quatre ascenseurs du canal du Centre sont les seuls au monde subsistant dans leur état originel de fonctionnement تشكّل المصاعد المائية الأربعة المخصصة للسفن والمجمّعة في مساحة ضيقة من قناة الوسط التاريخية نصباً صناعية رفيعة المستوى وهي تعطي، إلى جانب القناة والبنى المرتبطة بها، مثلاً مكتملاً ومصوناً على نحو رائع عن المنظر الصناعي الذي كان سائداً في أواخر القرن التاسع عشر فمن أصل المصاعد المائية الثمانية المخصصة للسفن والمشيّدة بين تلك الحقبة ومطلع القرن العشرين، تُعتبر المصاعد الأربعة لقناة الوسط المصاعد الوحيدة في العالم التي لا تزال تعمل في حالتها الأصلية 在古老的中央运河这一小段上，有四座液压船舶吊车，是终极水平的工业杰作，加上运河本身及其附属设施，构成了一幅19世纪末的工业全景图，保存十分完好。19世纪末20世纪初共有八座液压船舶吊车，但是只有在中央运河上的这四座仍然保持着原始工作形态。 Четыре гидравлических подъемника для судов на этом коротком участке исторического канала Дю-Сантр являются выдающимися памятниками инженерного искусства Вместе с самим каналом и связанными с ним сооружениями они представляют cобой очень хорошо сохранившийся уникальный пример промышленного ландшафта конца XIX в которые все еще существуют в оригинальном виде и поддерживаются в рабочем состоянии Construidos en un corto tramo del histórico Canal del Centro estos cuatro elevadores hidrí¡ulicos para embarcaciones son monumentos industriales de una calidad excepcional Junto con el propio canal y las estructuras conexas ofrecen un ejemplo muy completo de paisaje industrial de fines del siglo XIX en excelente estado de conservación De los ocho elevadores de este tipo construidos en esa época y a comienzos del siglo XX los del Canal del Centro son los únicos del mundo que se conservan en su estado de funcionamiento primigenio The four hydraulic boat-lifts on the short stretch of the historic Canal du Centre are industrial monuments of the highest quality Together with the Canal itself and its associated structures they constitute a remarkably well preserved and complete example of a highly technical industrial landscape at the end of the 19th century The construction of the Canal du Centre to ensure the liaison between the Meuse and the Escaut basins was part of the opening-up programme of Hainaut but with very few natural navigable waterways for coal export Digging work began in 1884 and the opening to navigation took place in 1917 the architects were confronted with a two-fold problem: the large distance in height over a short distance and the small quantity of water available The most adapted technique to overcome these constraints was that of boat lifts developed by English engineers using only hydraulic power each one covering a change in level of 15 to 16 meters The stretch is bordered by a series of art works including two fixed bridges and two lift or swing bridges The property also comprises the ancient lock No.1 of Thieu as well as three buildings housing the necessary hydraulic machinery for the good functioning of the lifts there are several two-storey houses to accommodate the work staff at the time of the construction of the canal a tree-planting programme on the banks was initiated Various types of trees were planted: American elm and white ash elderberry and popular) were planted around the lifts Of the eight hydraulic boat-lifts constructed at that time and at the beginning of the 20th century the four lifts of the Canal du Centre are the only ones worldwide remaining in their functioning original state and still in use The canal that can accommodate 300 ton boats is currently used for leisure navigation Criterion (iii) : The boat-lifts of the Canal du Centre bear exceptional testimony to the remarkable hydraulic engineering developments of 19th-century Europe Criterion (iv) : These boat-lifts represent the apogee of engineering technology to the construction of canals Even although it is now used for leisure navigation the Canal du Centre has always been in use The lifts are still hydraulically powered and the art works (swing bridges lifts etc.) have not been modernized and still function according to the original techniques The degree of authenticity is very high in all respects The lifts have not undergone any modification since they were built and their operating machinery is in its original form and in perfect working order the other components of this industrial landscape have been preserved and maintained in their original form with the minimum of modifications resulting from minor technological developments The brick and stone buildings are well maintained and sympathetically restored where necessary The same goes for the metal parts: as the riveting technique was not used in Belgium a foreign society was called upon to ensure identical restoration work following damage caused by a barge The Canal du Centre and the lifts were classified by decree of 22 September 1992 A second decree of 1 February 2002 extended the classification to the machinery buildings of Lifts 2 and 3 The same decree established a protection zone around the Canal all the classified elements listed on the Exceptional Properties of the Walloon Region have the highest level of protection foreseen by Walloon legislation The trees alongside the Canal have been inscribed on the list of remarkable trees and hedges in 1995 The Canal du Centre and its boat-lifts are public property They fall under the competence of the Operational Directorate General of the Waterways Department of Walloon with the functioning maintenance and management being ensured by the staff of this body Engineers possess the original plans to guide decisions regarding conservation and management issues Tourism enhancement is the responsibility of the « Hainaut Waterways » Association depending on the Hainaut Province Following the decision of the Walloon Government on 25 August 2011 to provide the Walloon sites inscribed on the World Heritage List with a management plan Scientific Committee and a Management Committee have been created Le Roeulx has been one of the main residences of the Princes of Croÿ since 1429 It is one of the most imposing classical castle in the country Its history overshadows that of all but the most prestigious residences in the Low Countries It opens one day a year for an international hot air balloon tournament Now if it rains on that day there will be no tournament and no rescheduling We found that out last year but there will still be lots of food and drinks Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Located on a branch of the Canal du Centre in Hainaut the Strépy-Thieu Boat Lift is a massive piece of industrial engineering that also fancies itself quite the tourist hot spot Finished in 2002 after 20 years in construction the giant water elevator was built to replace the crumbling series of locks and lifts which had previously serviced the river The modern lift stands 150 meters tall and consists of two giant "caissons," or water-troughs that carry the boats from the lower portion of the canal to the upper level over 73 meters above Each over-sized carrier is able to lift over 8,000 tons of liquid and ship weight While the imposing contraption is mainly for commercial trade and shipping visitors can also ride a boat while it is moved up or down the canal or if they are not interested in getting their feet wet the lift has a public cafeteria where diners can simply watch the machinery grind away.  Boats and fish both find their way through this massive hydroelectric structure The world’s oldest boat lift is also known in the United Kingdom as the "Cathedral of the Canals" and one of the "Seven Wonders of the Waterways." This section of the Kennet and Avon Canal has been designated the same level of heritage protection as Stonehenge 83-year-old ship elevator is an engineering feat to behold Old-fashioned knowledge and modern engineering create the world's only rotating boatlift Floating on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal is a contorted canal boat that honors the waterway’s heritage a Franciscan monk pulled off a construction miracle by building a Roman-style aqueduct to save the town of Otumba and possibly last soldier of the war to be killed in WWI The First World War Armistice to end the horrors of four years of brutal war had been signed   As all combattants knew the cease fire was imminent for the most part fighting had already ended just two minutes before the official cease-fire of Nova Scotia became the lasting symbol of the senselessness of war Tasked with securing bridges over the canal at Ville-sur Haine Price was killed by a German sniper’s bullet at 10:58 becoming the last Canadian and possibly the last soldier to be killed in the war part of a commemorative project by Parks Canada called Hometown Heroes (CBC News) A memorial cairn was erected by the village in 1968 at the site by the canal where Price was killed and where ceremonies are held annually to remember his sacrifice The memorial to Price near the place where he was felled moments before the official ceasefire To the memory of Private George Lawrence Price 256265 of the 28th North West Battalion killed in action near this spot at 10.58 hours the last Canadian soldier to die on the Western Front in the First World War Undated annual ceremony in November at the cairn to honour the fallen Canadian local authorities have been working with Canadian officials and several artists to develop a memorial sculpture to honour the fallen Canadian in time for this 100th anniversary “George Price symbolizes the sacrifice of thousands of young people thousands of soldiers who came from far away to give us back the freedom.” An unveiling ceremony of the new memorial will take place this week with Canada’s Governor General in attendance All rights reserved @ Radio Canada International 2018 Mar 9, 2020 | , The Belgian Air Force have released the display dates for their Red Devils display team fly four SIAI-Marchetti SF260 and will participate at events in Denmark Apr 11, 2024 | , The Belgian Air Force have released the schedule for their Red Devils Display Team which fly four SIAI-Marchetti SF260s The venerable training aircraft is reaching the end of its service in Belgium and 2024 could well be the final season for the team