By imperial decree, the extraction of water from the Marne was legalized in 1866, aimed at sustaining the Canal's flow. Two water-pumping mills were constructed that year - The Usine Élévatoire de Trilbardou, adorned with pumps and a Sagebien hydraulic motor, and the mysteriously secretive Usine Élévatoire de Villers-lès-Rigault. Though the precise blueprint and construction of the latter remains concealed, we know it relied on a siphon system, powering pumps that could move up to 38,000 cubic meters of water each day. As time has passed, the mill's operations have since ceased, yet it stands tall as an impressive testament to yesteryear's engineering. During the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, the mill beckons visitors to uncover its hidden ingenuity and pay tribute to the past.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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