Canal Dunkerque-Escaut
Encyclopedia
The Canal Dunkerque-Escaut is a 189 km series of large canals from Dunkerque to Mortagne-du-Nord
. The route is also known as the liaison,
La Liaison au Grand Gabarit, Canal au Grand Gabarit, Dunkerque-Escaut Waterway and Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut.
The Grand Gabarit (Large Gauge) canal route was created after the Second World War to accommodate very large commercial vessels - up to 143m long by 11m wide. This includes push-tows and side-by-side configurations. Existing canals were straightened and widened; and locks (ecluses) were enlarged.
The route includes, starting in Dunkerque:
Mortagne-du-Nord
-References:*...
. The route is also known as the liaison,
La Liaison au Grand Gabarit, Canal au Grand Gabarit, Dunkerque-Escaut Waterway and Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut.
The Grand Gabarit (Large Gauge) canal route was created after the Second World War to accommodate very large commercial vessels - up to 143m long by 11m wide. This includes push-tows and side-by-side configurations. Existing canals were straightened and widened; and locks (ecluses) were enlarged.
The route
Different references have it as different lengths depending on beginning and ending points. All agree on the beginning as Dunkerque:- Ending in Doornik BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
is 202 km (125.5 mi) with 14 locks - Ending at BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
border is 187 km (116.2 mi) with 14 locks - Ending at Mortagne-du-NordMortagne-du-Nord-References:*...
189 km (117.4 mi) with 14 locks
The route includes, starting in Dunkerque:
- Canal de BourbourgCanal de BourbourgThe Canal de Bourbourg is a 19.5 km long canal which connects the Aa River and Dunkerque's inner harbours in the Nord department, in northern France...
from Dunkerque to 50.88869°N 2.24696°E between Lynck and Pont l'Abbesse - Canal de la ColmeCanal de la ColmeThe Canal de la Colme is made up of the Canal de la Haute Colme and the Canal de la Basse Colme.-References:...
from 50.88869°N 2.24696°E to WattenWatten, Nord-Sights:The village is famous for its old ruined abbey, and for its mill, which was restored in the 1990s. These two buildings are located on the "Mountain of Watten" . Its church dates from the thirteenth century.-References:* *... - River Aa from WattenWatten, Nord-Sights:The village is famous for its old ruined abbey, and for its mill, which was restored in the 1990s. These two buildings are located on the "Mountain of Watten" . Its church dates from the thirteenth century.-References:* *...
to ArquesArques, Pas-de-CalaisArques is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:Arques is situated in the middle of the region 40 km from Calais and Dunkerque, and 45 km from Boulogne-sur-Mer. It lies on the border between the departments of Pas-de-Calais and Nord.The town is crossed by... - Canal de NeufosséCanal de NeufosséThe Canal de Neufossé is a French canal connecting the Aa River in Arques to the Canal d'Aire in Aire-sur-la-Lys. It is a segment of the Canal Dunkerque-Escaut. In 1760, the Neufossé canal was built to link the river Lys to the Aa, and give Lille and other inland towns a French route to the...
from ArquesArques, Pas-de-CalaisArques is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:Arques is situated in the middle of the region 40 km from Calais and Dunkerque, and 45 km from Boulogne-sur-Mer. It lies on the border between the departments of Pas-de-Calais and Nord.The town is crossed by...
to Aire-sur-la-LysAire-sur-la-LysAire-sur-la-Lys is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:The commune is located 10 miles southeast of Saint-Omer, at the junction of the N43 with several departmental roads, by the banks of the Lys and the Laquette rivers.-History:Aire-sur-la-Lys is mentioned for... - Canal d'AireCanal d'AireThe Canal d'Aire is a French canal connecting the Canal de Neufossé in Aire-sur-la-Lys to the Canal de la Deûle in Bauvin. It is a segment of the Canal Dunkerque-Escaut. -External links:*...
from Aire-sur-la-LysAire-sur-la-LysAire-sur-la-Lys is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:The commune is located 10 miles southeast of Saint-Omer, at the junction of the N43 with several departmental roads, by the banks of the Lys and the Laquette rivers.-History:Aire-sur-la-Lys is mentioned for...
to BauvinBauvinBauvin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is south-west of Lille.-Heraldry:-References:*... - Canal de la DeûleCanal de la DeûleThe Canal de la Deûle is a canal in northern France connecting Bauvin to the Belgian border near Deûlémont. It is 35.8 km with 3 locks. It may also be called the liaison Bauvin-Lys....
from BauvinBauvinBauvin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is south-west of Lille.-Heraldry:-References:*...
to DouaiDouai-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying... - Canal de la Sensée from DouaiDouai-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
to Bassin RondBassin RondThe Bassin Rond is a pond located beside the Canal de la Sensée as it joins the Canal de l'Escaut near Estrun.... - River Scheldt from Bassin RondBassin RondThe Bassin Rond is a pond located beside the Canal de la Sensée as it joins the Canal de l'Escaut near Estrun....
via ValenciennesValenciennesValenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
to BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
External links
- Grand Gabarit guide Places, ports and moorings on the canal(s).
- Map