Tunnel de la Bête Refaite (remains)

 engineering, cultural heritage / national heritage, canal tunnel

Opened in 1832, the tunnel was made to link Brussels to the mine and industrial area of Charleroi.
The Northern entrance was just North-West of the remains, in the middle of the present canal.
The Southern entrance is also in the new canal, at some distance over the new road bridge of Godarville.

The tunnel, 1283 metre (approx 3/4 Mile) long, is 4 (13 ft) metre wide, including a hauling quai, it allows the passage of the narrow barges named "baquet" or "sabot", 70 metric tons (150 000 Lbs), 19 m (62ft) long, 2.6 m (8.5 ft) wide.

The tunnel was disused in 1888 when a new tunnel "underground canal of Godarville" was opened 400 metre in the North-East.

By a miracle, this small part of the original was saved from total destruction by... bats! as this is one of the only places where they live in the region. This explain why the site entrance is now protected by a very strong barrier.