Riqueval Tunnel
Tunnel in Aisne, France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Riqueval Tunnel is a 5,670 metres (3.52 mi)-long tunnel on the St. Quentin Canal, close to the commune of Bellicourt, in the department of Aisne, France. It connects Bellicourt with Bony. It was constructed as part of the St Quentin Canal between 1801 and 1810, on the orders of Napoleon.
| Riqueval Tunnel | |
|---|---|
 The south tunnel entrance | |
 Interactive map of Riqueval Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
| Location | Ballicourt |
| Coordinates | 49.975998°N 3.2311505°E |
| Status | Open |
| Waterway | Canal de Saint-Quentin |
| Start | 49.95061°N 3.235851°E |
| End | 50.001386°N 3.22645°E |
| Operation | |
| Constructed | 1801-1810 |
| Opened | 1810 |
| Owner | Gabarit Freycinet |
| Technical | |
| Length | 5,670 metres (3.52 mi) |
| Boat-passable | Yes |
The tunnel remains in use, and can be traversed using a chain boat. Along with the Mauvages tunnel, on the Marne–Rhine Canal, it is one of the last locations in the world where a system of chain towing is still in operation.
It was the longest tunnel in the world until the construction of Biassa II tunnel, La Spezia, Italy.[1][2][3][4]
External links
- Tour through Riqueval Tunnel Site (French)
- Official site of navigable canals in France (French)
- Photos site (French)
- M. M. PUGIN: L’histoire du Canal de Saint-Quentin Dans: Mémoires numérisés, Tome XXVII, 1982, Page 43-60, PDF
- Video about Riqueval Tunnel and its area (French)