The Canal d’Entreroches (English: ''canal between the cliffs'') was planned in the 17th century as a link between the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
and
Lake Geneva
, image = Lake Geneva by Sentinel-2.jpg
, caption = Satellite image
, image_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = Switzerland, France
, coords =
, lake_type = Glacial lak ...
, and would have enabled inland waterway communication between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. It linked the river
Thielle
The river Thielle (french: La Thielle, or La Thièle, german: Zihl), is a tributary to the Aare, in the Swiss Seeland.
The Thielle results from the merging of the Orbe and Talent, northeast of the little city of Orbe in the Swiss canton of Vaud ...
(German: ''Zihl'') at
Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains () (called Eburodunum and Ebredunum during the Roman era) is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district. The population of Yverdon-les-Bains, , was ...
with the
Venoge at
Cossonay
Cossonay is a municipality in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is part of the district of Morges.
History
Cossonay has both Roman ruins and medieval graves. The first documentation of the settlement dates from 1096 under the name ''Cochonia ...
, a distance of 25 kilometres. It was completed in 1648, and remained in operation until 1829. Traces of some five kilometres of it still remain.
History
The
Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an es ...
led to a number of projects to link the Protestant Netherlands to the Mediterranean without the dangerous sea journey round Catholic Spain. In 1635, Elie Gouriet, the Breton quartermaster-general of the French forces in the
United Provinces, delivered a proposal to the government of
Bern
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
to join the lakes of
Neuchâtel
, neighboring_municipalities= Auvernier, Boudry, Chabrey (VD), Colombier, Cressier, Cudrefin (VD), Delley-Portalban (FR), Enges, Fenin-Vilars-Saules, Hauterive, Saint-Blaise, Savagnier
, twintowns = Aarau (Switzerland), Besançon (France), ...
and
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
by a canal crossing the
Mormont
''Le Mormont'' is a hill in the Swiss canton of Vaud, rising to an elevation of 605 metres, with a prominence of about 115 metres. It is part of the Éclépens municipality between lakes Neuchatel and Geneva. The name is first recorded in AD ...
, which formed the watershed between the two lakes, through the Gorge at Entreroches, near
Éclépens
Éclépens is a municipality of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, located in the district of Morges.
History
Éclépens is first mentioned in 814 as ''Sclepedingus''.
Geography
Éclépens has an area, , of . Of this area, or 52.8% is used for ...
. The authorities agreed to the plan on the condition that the canal would run entirely through Bernese territory, making stipulations about the width of the wayleave and the exploitation of adjacent watercourses and forests.
A group of investors financed the project, and work began in 1638 from the eastern end, where the river
Thielle
The river Thielle (french: La Thielle, or La Thièle, german: Zihl), is a tributary to the Aare, in the Swiss Seeland.
The Thielle results from the merging of the Orbe and Talent, northeast of the little city of Orbe in the Swiss canton of Vaud ...
was already navigable for 8 kilometres up to the confluence of the Orbe and the Talent. The first section opened in 1640. Seven locks raised the canal 14 metres over 9 kilometres to the summit at Entreroches. The western section, falling 19 metres over 8 kilometres to Cossonay, with 6 locks, took eight more years to build, being hampered by floods, unforeseen difficulties in the cuttings, and a shortage of funds. The water supply was assured by an arm with a single lock connecting the summit level to the River
Venoge at La Graveyre, close to Éclépens village.
From
Cossonay
Cossonay is a municipality in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is part of the district of Morges.
History
Cossonay has both Roman ruins and medieval graves. The first documentation of the settlement dates from 1096 under the name ''Cochonia ...
, the
Venoge fell steeply to the level of
Lake Geneva
, image = Lake Geneva by Sentinel-2.jpg
, caption = Satellite image
, image_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = Switzerland, France
, coords =
, lake_type = Glacial lak ...
. The 40 locks needed over 12 kilometres to overcome the 59 metre height difference between Cossonay and Morges proved too much for the investors, and this section was never built. Goods had to be transhipped and carried by road. The steep fall of the
Rhône
The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...
below Geneva also meant that the canal never achieved more than local significance. In 1679, a new terminus was built at Le Bouquet, four kilometres north of
Cossonay
Cossonay is a municipality in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is part of the district of Morges.
History
Cossonay has both Roman ruins and medieval graves. The first documentation of the settlement dates from 1096 under the name ''Cochonia ...
, and gradually this lowest section, which had been difficult and expensive to maintain, fell out of use.
The canal was profitable until the mid-18th century, though the amount carried was low - around 6000 tons a year, achieving a maximum in 1719/20 of 8532 wagon-loads (approximately 6680 tons). 94% of the traffic was from south to north. The main cargo (85%) was wine from the vineyards around Lake Geneva and salt from Gex, for transport to Bern and Solothurn. The Plessis-Gouret family continued to be responsible for its operation.
Profitability declined at the end of the 18th century, and a shortage of funds led to a lack of maintenance. Bankruptcy was declared in 1797. The collapse of the aqueduct carrying the River Talent over the canal near Chavornay in 1829 finally led to the canal's abandonment. The land passed to the Caisse d'Épargne de Neuchâtel (the Neuchatel Savings Bank), and subsequently to the Canton of
Vaud
Vaud ( ; french: (Canton de) Vaud, ; german: (Kanton) Waadt, or ), more formally the canton of Vaud, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of ten districts and its capital city is Lausanne. Its coat of arms b ...
.
A permanent navigable connection between the Rhône and the Rhine was finally achieved in France in 1833 with the completion of the
Canal du Rhône au Rhin
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow u ...
.
Operation
A towpath ran the length of the canal. Haulage appears to have been by teams of three men. The locks were mainly turf-sided, and of the
guillotine
A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with stocks at th ...
kind. The lock gates were lifted by a large wheel some 5 metres in diameter.
[Pierre-André Vuitel, ''La fabuleuse aventure du canal d'Entreroches'']
A notable feature of this canal was that all lock gates were left open and the bed was left dry during the summer months when it was not in use. When a cargo was expected, a sluice was opened to allow water from the Venoge to enter the summit level, the lock gates were closed and the canal filled.
No picture of the boats using the canal has survived. From documentary evidence, we know that they were some 20 metres in length, 3.5 metres broad, drawing 0.75 metre. They carried about 25 tons, and were flat-bottomed, with a pointed prow and a square stern. They were steered with a long oar, or ''gaffe''.
Pictures
File:Canal d'Entreroches 329237533 o.jpg, The Canal d'Entreroches passing through Mount Mormont
File:Canal d'Entreroches 17 11.jpg, Another view of the summit pound at Entreroches
File:Entreroches walling detail.JPG, Detail of the walling on the summit pound
File:Canal d'Entreroches 10 11.jpg, The former transhipment house at Entreroches
File:Canal d'Entreroches 13 11.jpg, A Roman milestone discovered during the construction of the canal in 1640
File:Canal d'Entreroches 08 11.jpg, The Canal d’Entreroches in the Orbe Plain
File:Canal d?Entreroches Talent Aqueduct.JPG, The aqueduct carrying the River Talent over the Canal, whose collapse in 1829 permanently disrupted navigation.
File:Canal d'Entreroches, Dufour Map 1865, 01 12.png, The Canal shown on the Dufour map
Dufour or ''variant'', may refer to:
*Dufour (surname)
Places
*Dufourspitze or Dufour's peak, in the Swiss Alps
*Julia Dufour, a village and municipality in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Other uses
*1961 Dufour, main-belt asteroid
*Dufour Audit ...
of 1865
References
Literature
* John Landry, ''Le canal d'Entreroches : Causeries Yverdonnoises'', 1923
* Paul-Louis Pelet, ''Le canal d'Entreroches. Histoire d'une idée'', 1946
* ''Wanderungen auf historischen Wegen, Inventar historische Verkehrswege der Schweiz'', Chapter 15, Ott Verlag, Thun, .
* ''wandern.ch 2/2014'' (May 2014) ISSN 2296-2190
* Klaus Grewe (Ed.): ''Canal d’Entreroches. Der Bau eines Schiffahrtsweges von der Nordsee bis zum Mittelmeer im 17. Jahrhundert.'' Forschungsbeiträge des Förderkreises Vermessungstechnisches Museum e.V., Stuttgart 1987, .
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canal d'Entreroches
Canals in Switzerland
Buildings and structures in the canton of Vaud
Canals opened in 1648
1648 establishments in Europe
17th-century establishments in Switzerland