A day at

La Pente d'eau de Montech

A day at La Pente d'Eau means...

Discover an extraordinary machine; climb aboard a 38-meter-long museum barge, admire brightly colored paintings; observe local industrial heritage from the 1970s…

It’s also about strolling along the water’s edge in the shade, by bike, on foot or inline skates; playing as a family; picnicking at the many tables available to visitors, watching a boat go by in a lock…

It’s not the destination that’s important, it’s the journey!

At the start of the tour

In the town of Montech, numerous signs indicate “La pente d’eau de Montech”, the starting point for the scenographic walk.

On the industrial site of the paper mill, a colorful totem on the edge of the canal invites visitors to go to the Pente d’eau de Montech site house to pick up the site map. For families, a game trail is available for purchase to entertain children along the way.

When is the best time to visit La Pente d'Eau?
The water slope can be visited between April and November.
Between November and March, the site remains accessible, but the Altaïr barge-museum area is closed.
Is there a charge for visiting the Water Slope?
No, self-guided tours are free. You don’t need to book in advance to visit the water slope.
How long does a visit to the Water Slope last?
We recommend a minimum 2h30 visit to complete the circuit. The walking loop is 3km long. The visit to the Altaïr barge-museum takes about 30 minutes.

Hard to port!

All along the way, colorful translated panels offer a wealth of information on navigation, locks, colors, other crossing systems, how the structure works, its success and more.

A one-and-a-half-kilometre walk starts at the site house and ends at the Pente d’Eau machine. At the first lockhouse, the footbridge takes visitors along the reach that used to carry the boats to the entrance of the Water Slope.

At the end of the path, a colorful bridge spans this reach, and a staircase affords a panoramic view of the Pente d’Eau and the Canal des Deux Mers (Canal de Garonne).

Another 300 meters of slope to reach the Altaïr barge and machine.

Is it possible to eat on site?
Yes, at Lock 11 the open-air restaurant La Belle Équipe welcomes you every day in fine weather!
At lock 13, the Pellaborie gîte also offers cold drinks for sale.
Where are the toilets?
Toilets are available at the tourist office/site house and in Lock House 13 near the playground and picnic area. They are open only during site opening hours and are serviced several times a day.
Can I picnic on the site?
You can picnic in our two picnic areas, at the entrance to the site and in front of the extraordinary machine.

At the heart of the site

The Freycinet-gauge Altaïr barge (38.50 meters long) is a museum space that reveals Jean Aubert’s technical challenges in making this extraordinary machine work.

On the outside gangway, the imposing “Masque noir” closes the channel. It’s the centerpiece that makes this Pente d’eau unique in the world!

Is there a charge for visiting the Altaïr barge?
No, self-guided tours are free.
Is it possible to take photos on the barge?
Photos and films are permitted throughout the site, and can be shared on social networks #pentedeaudemontech
Postcards and posters illustrating the site are available from the tourist office store.
Are pets allowed?
Pets are allowed on a leash along the route, but are not allowed in the Altaïr museum-barge area.

Halfway along the route, picnic tables, a play area and toilets are available for visitors to take a short break before returning along the Canal de Garonne waterway in the shade of the plane trees.

How does the Water Slope work?

The Principle: Push a volume of water over which a boat floats

The engineer had to solve 3 major challenges!

Challenge no. 1: energy
Challenge no. 2: waterproofing
Challenge no. 3: the power of water

2 rail locomotives, powered by a powerful Poyaud DIESEL AIR engine, will move in perfect synchronization along the gully. A 100% French engine, but very polluting!

To meet this challenge, Jean Aubert invented a unique piece of equipment: THE MASK.

A powerful hydraulic cylinder raises and lowers the mask. The hydraulic force of the side rollers presses them against the gutter, ensuring a near-perfect seal. The whole machine and its mask then move, pushing up and holding down the wedge of water on which… the boat floats!

This is the feat of the concrete gully! Characterized by its 3% slope, it is equipped with a series of devices to enable the boat to complete its passage in complete safety. The “fishbones” below the coloured walkway act as shock absorbers, slowing down the flow of moving water. As for the concave door at the end of the slope, it lowers automatically as soon as it is no longer under water pressure.

©How It Works Shema Pente Deau Page 0001

More info

For all

The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility: full access along the route and in the museum areas of the Péniche Altaïr, as well as on the outdoor walkways.

Motorhome parking

It’s possible to park your camper van for the duration of your visit. For overnight stays, there’s a service area nearby: “Camping-Car Park” 520 chemin de la pierre 82700 MONTECH.

Rainy or hot day

The entire site is outdoors, so an umbrella will be useful.

Air-conditioned museum barge Altaïr

With stroller

The entire site is accessible with a stroller, including the Altaïr museum-barge area.