Aqueduct of Gol

Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Gol aqueduct is a former hydraulic structure located on the island of La Réunion, in the commune of Saint-Louis. Built around 1835, it crossed the Gol gully to supply water to the Gol sugar factory, a major industrial site of the time. Originally made of wood with masonry batteries, it was modernized at the end of the 19th century by an assembly of semi-cylindrical riveted plates, reflecting the technological developments of the industrial era.

In 1816, a first canal and aqueduct were built to bring water from the Saint-Étienne River to the sugar factory of the Gol residence. This work, essential to the operation of the plant, was gradually replaced by more sustainable structures. However, the modernization of the plant and the creation of a new irrigation system in 1985 made the aqueduct obsolete, resulting in the final closure of the canal.

The Gol aqueduct has been a historic monument since 14 March 2014 and today bears witness to La Réunion's industrial and hydraulic heritage. Although owned by a private company, it remains a symbol of the island's sugar history, marked by technical innovation and adaptation to local economic needs.

The structure, located between downtown Saint-Louis and the Gol plain, also illustrates the ingenuity of colonial constructions, designed to overcome the geographical constraints of a volcanic island. Its designation as historic monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in the economic development of the region.

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