Near St-Omer discover the vertical hydraulic lift at Arques. Dating from 1887, the lift was constructed to move canal boats up from the River Aa to the higher level of the Neuffossee canal which crosses the watersheds between the river Aa, the Lys and the Escaut providing a through route by water from Dunkerque or Calais via Saint Omer to the industrial city of Lille. The lift became a "museum piece" in 1967. As part of enlarging and modernizing the canal, the slow lift was replaced by one big lock. Today the canal is used by a mix of pleasure boats and industrial barges. Trips can be booked for river tours up and down the river and canal system. "Le Fontinette", a covered passenger boat with 50 seats, departs from the foot of the Fontinettes hydraulic boat lift and allows visiors to discover the old canal flowing from Saint-Omer to Arques.
Rue Denis Papin Phone: 33 0 3 21 12 62 30 poste 34 Fax: 33 0 3 21 98 07 69 E-mail: fontinettes@free.fr