The Canal de la Basse Colme is a canal in northern France from
Bergues
Bergues (; nl, Sint-Winoksbergen; vls, Bergn) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgian border. Locally it is referred to as "the other Bruges in Flanders". Bergues ...
to
Hondschoote
Hondschoote (; from Dutch; ''Hondschote'' in the modern Dutch spelling) is a commune of the Nord ''département'', in northern France.
Heraldry
Geography
Hondschoote borders Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. It lies 12 km fr ...
on the
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
border. It is the eastern segment of the
Canal de la Colme
The Canal de la Colme is a canal in France and Belgium comprising the Canal de la Haute Colme and the Canal de la Basse Colme. It spans 25 kilometers and has three locks, of which only two remain. It was constructed as a flood way some time in the ...
. In
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
, it continues as the
Canal de Bergues
The Canal de Bergues is one of the oldest canals in Flanders, its course being shown on a map dating from the 9th century, connecting Bergues to the port of Dunkerque, in northern France. The town itself, heavily fortified by Vauban in the late ...
(in Dutch : Bergenvaart).
Today, this channel is downgraded.
History
In the
castellany
A castellan is the title used in Medieval Europe for an appointed official, a governor of a castle and its surrounding territory referred to as the castellany. The title of ''governor'' is retained in the English prison system, as a remnant of ...
of
Furnes, the name given to the channel was Bergenvaart or Kolme (Canal de Bergues Canal Colme). During the Middle Ages, the canal was a very important trade route. In 1622, it was improved and a lock was built by the Spaniards in time of war Houthem to prevent flooding from Bergues. The French side of the canal has been deepened and it looks like much more of an industrial canal. The Belgian side has kept its medieval character.
See also
*
List of canals in France
This is a list of the navigable canals and rivers in France. For reference purposes, all waterways are listed, including many that have been abandoned for navigation, mostly in the period 1925-1955, but some in later years. Although several source ...
References
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Canals in France
Buildings and structures in Nord (French department)