Guided tour of the Niffer-Le Corbusier lock

The secondary Le Corbusier lock, with its control tower and administrative building, is a remarkable example of modern French architecture. It is one of the few French public commissions given to the architect Le Corbusier, and his only building in Alsace. Although the two buildings have gone unnoticed in the extensive work of a world-famous architect, they are nonetheless extremely rich. They are a synthesis of all Le Corbusier's construction principles: the choice of bare concrete, the hyperbolic paraboloid roof of the administrative building, the undulating glass panels and the architectural promenade. The site has received financial support from the Fondation du Patrimoine and the Mission Bern because of the urgent need to safeguard this architectural masterpiece and undertake the necessary restoration work quickly. It should not be confused with the main lock, with its semi-circular roof, built in 1995 as part of the (abandoned) project to upgrade the Rhone-Rhine canal to a wide gauge. The Le Corbusier lock is located a few hundred metres upstream of the main lock. Reservation online or at the Tourist Office 48 hours in advance. Visit in French only.