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Riqueval Tunnel
Explore more nearby places in France, Hauts-de-France

Where chain towing can still be experienced

The Riqueval Tunnel in France is among the most exciting places to visit if you admire the history and all of its intriguing little aspects. This is one of the very few places in the world where you can still sail on a chain boat – a type of river craft, used for sailing numerous European rivers by the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

The chain towing system of the Riqueval Tunnel is part of the St. Quentin Canal; it’s still in operation, and yes – it offers tourists the opportunity to go through a 5-kilometer-long tunnel, while pulled by a tug.

Need to know more?

We bet you are getting increasingly excited about it, so here are a few extra details that might furtherly intrigue you:

  • The Riqueval Tunnel was constructed between 1801 and 1810  on the orders of Napoleon. It has a total length of 5670 meters and was officially the longest tunnel in the world until the Italian Biassa II tunnel was created. Anyway, it’s still the longest boat tunnel within the borders of France.

  • This is one of the two places on Earth where a system of towing barges with a chain still exists – the second one is the Mauvages tunnel, part of the Marne–Rhine Canal.

  • This boat that sails along the tunnel is pulled on an 8-kilometer-long chain that rests at the bottom of the channel, fixed at each end of its underground.

  • The weight of the chain is estimated to be between 12 kg and 13 kg per meter or has a total mass of 96 tonnes.

  • The boat is inseparable from the chain and cannot turn around inside the tunnel. This is why the front and rear parts of the vessel are identical.

  • The tunnel connects the villages of Bony and Bellicourt by literally passing under them.

How to get there?

Now that you are already packing your suitcase, all that’s left to know is that the Riqueval Tunnel is located nearby the town of Bellicourt, established in the department of Aisne, northern France. Bellicourt is reachable by taking the N44 road between Cambrai and Saint-Quentin, and it stands over the main tunnel of the St. Quentin Canal.

Ready to sail? Stay tuned on the Travel in Pink channel to explore tons of other hidden touristic gems around France and all over the globe!

5 Hameau de Riqueval, 02420 Bellicourt, France

Where is it on the Map?

5 Hameau de Riqueval, 02420 Bellicourt, France

Explore more places in Europe

Explore more nearby places in France, Hauts-de-France
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Where chain towing can still be experienced

The Riqueval Tunnel in France is among the most exciting places to visit if you admire the history and all of its intriguing little aspects. This is one of the very few places in the world where you can still sail on a chain boat – a type of river craft, used for sailing numerous European rivers by the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

The chain towing system of the Riqueval Tunnel is part of the St. Quentin Canal; it’s still in operation, and yes – it offers tourists the opportunity to go through a 5-kilometer-long tunnel, while pulled by a tug.

Need to know more?

We bet you are getting increasingly excited about it, so here are a few extra details that might furtherly intrigue you:

  • The Riqueval Tunnel was constructed between 1801 and 1810  on the orders of Napoleon. It has a total length of 5670 meters and was officially the longest tunnel in the world until the Italian Biassa II tunnel was created. Anyway, it’s still the longest boat tunnel within the borders of France.

  • This is one of the two places on Earth where a system of towing barges with a chain still exists – the second one is the Mauvages tunnel, part of the Marne–Rhine Canal.

  • This boat that sails along the tunnel is pulled on an 8-kilometer-long chain that rests at the bottom of the channel, fixed at each end of its underground.

  • The weight of the chain is estimated to be between 12 kg and 13 kg per meter or has a total mass of 96 tonnes.

  • The boat is inseparable from the chain and cannot turn around inside the tunnel. This is why the front and rear parts of the vessel are identical.

  • The tunnel connects the villages of Bony and Bellicourt by literally passing under them.

How to get there?

Now that you are already packing your suitcase, all that’s left to know is that the Riqueval Tunnel is located nearby the town of Bellicourt, established in the department of Aisne, northern France. Bellicourt is reachable by taking the N44 road between Cambrai and Saint-Quentin, and it stands over the main tunnel of the St. Quentin Canal.

Ready to sail? Stay tuned on the Travel in Pink channel to explore tons of other hidden touristic gems around France and all over the globe!

5 Hameau de Riqueval, 02420 Bellicourt, France

Where is it on the Map?

5 Hameau de Riqueval, 02420 Bellicourt, France

Explore more places in Europe

See more in Can't retrieve term. In case if you changed taxonomy slug for this term, please update widget settings to use new taxonomy slug.
Explore more nearby places in France, Hauts-de-France

Where chain towing can still be experienced

The Riqueval Tunnel in France is among the most exciting places to visit if you admire the history and all of its intriguing little aspects. This is one of the very few places in the world where you can still sail on a chain boat – a type of river craft, used for sailing numerous European rivers by the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

The chain towing system of the Riqueval Tunnel is part of the St. Quentin Canal; it’s still in operation, and yes – it offers tourists the opportunity to go through a 5-kilometer-long tunnel, while pulled by a tug.

Need to know more?

We bet you are getting increasingly excited about it, so here are a few extra details that might furtherly intrigue you:

  • The Riqueval Tunnel was constructed between 1801 and 1810  on the orders of Napoleon. It has a total length of 5670 meters and was officially the longest tunnel in the world until the Italian Biassa II tunnel was created. Anyway, it’s still the longest boat tunnel within the borders of France.

  • This is one of the two places on Earth where a system of towing barges with a chain still exists – the second one is the Mauvages tunnel, part of the Marne–Rhine Canal.

  • This boat that sails along the tunnel is pulled on an 8-kilometer-long chain that rests at the bottom of the channel, fixed at each end of its underground.

  • The weight of the chain is estimated to be between 12 kg and 13 kg per meter or has a total mass of 96 tonnes.

  • The boat is inseparable from the chain and cannot turn around inside the tunnel. This is why the front and rear parts of the vessel are identical.

  • The tunnel connects the villages of Bony and Bellicourt by literally passing under them.

How to get there?

Now that you are already packing your suitcase, all that’s left to know is that the Riqueval Tunnel is located nearby the town of Bellicourt, established in the department of Aisne, northern France. Bellicourt is reachable by taking the N44 road between Cambrai and Saint-Quentin, and it stands over the main tunnel of the St. Quentin Canal.

Ready to sail? Stay tuned on the Travel in Pink channel to explore tons of other hidden touristic gems around France and all over the globe!

5 Hameau de Riqueval, 02420 Bellicourt, France

Where is it on the Map?

5 Hameau de Riqueval, 02420 Bellicourt, France

Explore more places in Europe

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