Grand Large of Péronnes

May 2010

Lost between Tournai and the French border, this site is unfortunately threatened by a somewhat megalomaniac project of Prince Michel de Ligne. That person has indeed designed (since 2007) to build here a gigantic recreation center including snow-park, cross-country ski ring, ice ring, skate park, roller ring, free-fall-wind-tunnel (free fall simulator), water park, kayak-rafting, outdoor wake-park, children's slide, golf, equestrian center, sports fields (tennis courts), playground, boat stop , fishing activities, walking tours, riding tours, mountain biking, nature discovery (what will remain of it...), tourism house, seminar rooms, auditorium, meeting space, sports museum, fitness activities and Wellness center (SPA), riders' cottage, cottages, lake-houses, fishermen's cottage, forest cabins, fun-village, over-water huts, hotel-restaurant and the essential center commercial. Just that ! Realistic man.
This pharaonic project has however been decreased by the authorities. And as the new Minister of Territorial Planning is Ecolo Philippe Henry, there is hope that this "thing" will end up in the dustbin of history.
That to say.

The Grand Large is in fact a huge 45-hectare pond used for regulating the water level between the Scheldt and the Péronnes-Blaton-Nimy canal. More than 4 million m³ of land has been moved to create this artificial lake.
The canal was dug in the 60s to allow the transport of coal from the Borinage to France nearby. Only two locks will be needed and were built near the confluence of the Scheldt. The n ° 1 buys at once a vertical drop of 12.5 meters and the second, 6 meters. This modern canal replaces the aging Antoing-Pommerœul^Note1 canal, dug in the 19th century.
Quickly, water activities will be grafted on the banks of the basin, replacing the old shipbuilding yards. And there are also many walks around, including a section of the RAVeL^Note2 .

I invite you to watch these shots on the Grand Large and its locks.
The visit was pleasant, with the passage of four pleasure boats, including one called "Tartine" !
Finally, thanks to Cedric for his technical help.