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Origin and history

The Canal de la Baignerie, also known as the Canal de la rue de l'Arc, was built in the early 15th century after the annexation of the parish of Sainte-Catherine by Lille. It followed the route of an old arm of the Deûle, channeled to integrate the new neighborhoods into the defensive and hydraulic system of the city. This canal, initially linking the Bar door to the Weppes bridge, played a key role in water supply and defense, before being extended to the 17th century to reach the moats of the new fortified enclosure.

In the 19th century, the siltation of the canal by industrial and domestic discharges posed major health problems. The area around the shallow Hole, near the Bridge of Love, was particularly unhealthy. Faced with these nuisances, the municipality decided to fill the canal in 1912, keeping only a short stretch between the streets of Bouchers and Baignerie. This vestige, along with an island of houses from the adjacent eighteenth century, were protected as historical monuments in 1993.

The canal was part of a complex hydraulic network, including the Pont-de-Weppes Canal (or Saint-Pierre), the Monnaie Canal, and the Cirque Canal, which bypassed the feudal motte of the future Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral. Its route reflected the successive enlargements of Lille, notably that of 1415 and the fortifications of Vauban in 1670, although the latter did not alter its course. Today, the site is accessible near the metro station Rihour.

The houses bordering the vestige of the canal, dated from the eighteenth century, form a coherent architectural ensemble. Located on Rue de la Baignerie, Place Maurice Schumann (former Place de l'Arsenal) and Rue des Bouchers, they illustrate the city planning of Lille of the time. Their protection extends to numbers 4 rue de la Baignerie, 2-8 place Maurice Schumann, and 40 rue des Bouchers, reflecting the historical integration between hydraulic infrastructure and habitat.

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