Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

La Rochelle's brief way is a hauling hold located on the south side of the port's external watershed. Built between 1942 and 1943 by the Germans, it integrates into a military device including the submarine base of La Pallice. Its mechanism, initially imported from a Dutch port, was modernised in 1959 for the maintenance of trawlers up to 500 tonnes.

This inclined reinforced concrete plane, about 200 metres long (120 metres under water) and 15 metres wide, has a slope of 5°. Equipped with four rails, a central rack and wooden rollers, it uses two riveted IPN carts, operated by steel cables connected to electric winches. The reinforced concrete side ber incorporates seven horizontal rails and pulleys.

Ranked a historic monument by order of 13 December 2002, the brief way illustrates a type of calving gear widespread since the end of the 19th century. He retained most of his original equipment (excluding the crane), dating from 1942-1943 and 1959. Its state of conservation makes it a rare testimony of the harbour engineering of the time.

After World War II, the slipway was reused for civilian activities, including the maintenance of fishing vessels. Its functional architecture and mechanisms, partially modernized, reflect both its military heritage and its adaptation to local economic needs.

External links