Bargemen Town / French Inland Waterways Museum

Located in Longueil-Annel, the Boatmen Town is the first area for a lively performance about canal craft.

This museum is above all a memory act for Bargemen gathered within the Waterway Association Museum, created in 1993, which is behind the project. The Boatmen Town came into being thanks to the Two Valleys Communes Community who helped to develop the project in order to make it « a different kind of museum ».

Estimated time of visit (barge and house) : 1h45 - Guided tours in english are possible by previous arrangement

OPENING HOURS :
HIGH SEASON : 1st of April to October 31: everyday except Monday from 10.00 am. to 6.00 pm.
LOW SEASON : 1st of November to March : everyday except Monday from 10.00 am. to 5.30 pm. (week) and from 10.00 am. to 5.30pm (week-end)

Closed : January.

Prices : 6€ Adult / 4 € Children / Free (Disabled, - 5 year old)

Free access to outside equipment.

Longueil-Annel

During the 19th century Industrial Revolution Longueil-Annel had been an important port.

The village destiny altered between 1826 and 1831 with the construction of the Oise River lateral canal. The town became rapidly a key stopping place on the fluvial route to Paris.

Even if the golden age of canal craft has ended after World War II, Longueil-Annel is still a stopping place liked by canal and river travellers and a special residence place of retired bargemen.

 

To remember :

1900 : The lock was doubled to face to the increasing traffic.

32:  This is the number of drinking establishments and bars set up in Longueil-Annel up to the early 20th century.

 

Along canal barges were towed by men or horses with collars for a long time.

On the other hand, on the Oise River barges convoys had been formed and towed by steam boats. So the town of Longueil-Annel became a stopping place where convoys were formed and where getting fresh supplies.

Freight markets, towing companies and shipyards had made bubbled the village on a hetic rythm for a long time.

The Bargemen

Living on board

 

Playing on board barge

Children were tied with a harness so that they couldn’t fall into the water. Many of them learnt to ride a bike or to play football in an empty hold.

Boarding school

Without seeing their parents for 6 months…

Learning

From the age of 6, a bargee child could learn driving the boat.

Each side of bargemen life is linked to the barge. On board they were often born, they started walking, they learnt their job and then they had got their own boat. Always moving in a sedentary world, everyday they live adventure.

Getting fresh supplies for the long days of navigation, finding a doctor who would accept to go on board, fighting against the ice which threatens the hull, looking after the children… Everyday life problems are most different from those of « the ashore people ».

Testimonies

« For me, my boat is a part of me »

« It’s in our blood, we can’t help it. It’s in the family, from descents to descendants. »

Social struggles

At the end of the 19th century, barge is the main means of goods transport. At that time bargemen were between 35,000 and 40,000.

But the competition of railway appeared and difficulties began for bargemen who had to « defend his freelance worker’s freedom ». In the same time, bargemen had to face to important variations in freight prices.

The first social conflicts began. In 1936, the « work in turn » system –a first step to working conditions improvement- was passed (law of the 18th July 1936 during Leon Blum’s government, the first left-wing government).

At present a thousand of bargemen is registered. Despite of fluvial transport low cost, economy is heading towards road transport. Still important in Northern Europe, canal transport might come back in the forefront with the large size canal project.

Some dates

 1870

Railway competition

1936-2000

« Work in turn » institution

1954

Opening of schools for bargees’ children and of specific social offices.

 Technology

Did you know that…

Until 1970 barges were still towed by horses.

Facing to the increasing number of ships types used in fluvial freight transport, Charles Louis de Freycinet (1828-1923), Minister for Civil Engineering, passed in 1879 a decree which set the same size for all waterways.

A Freycinet lock is from then on 39 m long and 5.20 m large, as for barges, they are 38.5 m long and 5.05 m large.

During the 19th century, fluvial transport combined traditional towing with warping tugs and towing boats. The steam and later the electrical tractor use opened up the way for modernity. The combustion engine invention represents one of the last greatest revolutions for bargemen : from then on barges are automotive and free to go where they need and when they need.

Did you know that…

Motorbarges made up 20% of the number of Freycinet barges in 1935 and practically 100% in 1970.

The great inventions

Today bargemen cross landscapes lined by ingenious and spectacular structures.

Indeed engineers combined art and science resources to enable boats to clear differences in landscape level and reliefs. For instance :

  • the ramp of Arzviller : this « lift for boats » stands for 17 locks to get over a 45 meters slope in 20 minutes
  • the underground passage of Riqueval : it was built under Napoleon and allows to clear reliefs.

Around the Museum

Don’t miss the speaking posts along the canal banks. Living on board barge is not living isolated from the « ashore people » world. Lock crossing, towing path, bars, shipyards and celebrations or fairs are all occasions of exchanges and meetings. 5 speaking posts broach these themes with resonant testimonies.

Annual events

On the 1st Sunday of July : Canal craft Pardon (religious festival)

On the 3rd week-end of July : the Museum birthday

In December : temporary exhibitions in the Museum

To end your visit, enjoy the sight on the lock operating and, still along the canal banks, just stroll to discover the 10 commandments of bargemen (for example : greet the passing boat, keep your barge in good repair…)