i ✨ Off the beaten track
Saint-Louis–Arzviller Boat Lift (Inclined Plane)
A spectacular boat lift: a giant tank slides sideways down the slope, single-handedly replacing 17 locks on the Marne–Rhine Canal.
Overview
Between Arzviller and Saint-Louis, on the Marne-Rhine Canal, boats don't tackle the gradient through a series of locks. Instead, they sail into a huge water-filled tank that slides sideways along the slope. The structure came into service in 1969 after four years of construction. It replaced the seventeen locks of the neighbouring Vallée des Éclusiers (Lock-keepers' Valley) and is still working: around 8,000 pleasure boats pass through it every year.
The self-guided visit gives access to a permanent exhibition, the upper platform from which you can watch the manoeuvres, the machine room and a museum barge in dry dock. To ride through in the tank yourself, other packages add a cruise on a passenger boat or a trip on a little tourist train. The structure holds the Architecture contemporaine remarquable label (Remarkable Contemporary Architecture) from the French Ministry of Culture and welcomes around 70,000 visitors a year. At the end of the season, a guided cruise through the Arzviller and Niderviller tunnels runs on a few dates, by reservation only.
Where to do it
In Saint-Louis (Moselle (57)), in Lorraine. Best season: ☀️ Summer.
Good to know
Brought into service in 1969, the inclined plane single-handedly replaces 17 traditional locks. Around 8,000 pleasure boats use it every year.
Tips
Book online, choosing your date first: only the packages still available will then be displayed. In summer, arrive when the ticket office opens to enjoy the site in peace. If you're coming with a person with reduced mobility, let the site know in advance.
Location
Frequently asked questions
When is the Arzviller boat lift open in 2026?
The inclined plane is open daily from 1 April to 31 October 2026, except 1 May, from 10:00 to 17:00, and until 18:00 from 5 July to 30 August. The ticket office opens at 9:30 (9:45 in April and October) and closes thirty minutes before the site.
Do you need to book a visit to the Arzviller inclined plane?
The online ticket office lets you choose your date and package. Some options, such as the tunnel cruise, are by reservation only. Groups should write to the site stating the date, package, preferred departure time and number of participants.
Can you bring a dog or visit in a wheelchair?
Dogs on a lead are allowed on the site and on board the boats, in the outdoor area. The site, the boats and the tourist train are accessible to people with reduced mobility under certain conditions: contact the reception before your visit.
What payment methods are accepted?
On site, you can pay in cash, by bank card, by cheque or with paper chèques-vacances (French holiday vouchers). Prices depend on the package (self-guided visit, tourist train or boat cruise); check the up-to-date price list on the official website before you go.
Information checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions may change: check the official website before you travel.
Nearby (within 20 km)
Weekend idea around Saint-Louis
- 1Saint-Louis–Arzviller Boat Lift (Inclined Plane)Starting point · Saint-Louis
- 2Sainte-Croix Wildlife ParkMust-see place · 20 km away
- 3Alsace-Moselle MemorialMust-do activity · 28 km away
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