Inclined plane in Moselle

A boat that ascends 44.55 meters in 4 minutes on a 41 percent slope without a single lock exists in Moselle, at Saint-Louis, near Arzviller. This unique system is part of the Marne-Rhine canal and has been in operation since January 27, 1969.

Replaces 17 locks

The inclined plane at Arzviller replaces 17 locks that previously allowed boats to cross the hill. Before 1969, navigating through these 17 locks took a full day, as the locks were spaced about one every 235 meters over a 4 km stretch.

How the boat ascends

A boat filled with 730,000 liters of water ascends 44.55 meters in 4 minutes. This is achieved using two counterweights of 450 tons each, which balance the system through 14 steel cables. The boat is a steel cart 41.5 meters long, 5.5 meters wide, and 3.20 meters deep.

Efficiency and usage

The inclined plane saves a full day of navigation for commercial barges traveling between Strasbourg and Paris. More than 8,500 pleasure boats use it each year, and the structure welcomes 75,000 visitors annually, averaging about 205 people per day.

Construction and history

The design of the inclined plane began in 1962, and nearly 700 workers worked on the construction site for four years. On January 27, 1969, the barge Jeanne d'Arc made the first descent, marking the end of the need for the 17 locks that once lined the Teigelbach valley.

Unique engineering

The inclined plane is one of only three such elevators in Europe, with equivalents in Krasnoïarsk, Russia, and Ronquières, Belgium. However, the Arzviller structure is unique as it is the only one of transverse type, unlike the longitudinal type of the other two.

Slope and time

The 41 percent slope means the boat gains 41 meters for every 100 meters traveled. The 44.55 meter elevation is equivalent to a building with about fifteen floors. The entire process, from entry to exit, takes 20 minutes, with the actual ascent lasting only 4 minutes.