As water engineering facilities cooperating with each other from the mid-19th century, they constitute an example of the 19th-century technological thought. Currently, they are an excellently recognisable landscape element of the oldest part of Opole, called Venice of Opole.

History

In the 19th century, the bed of the Młynówka river flowing through Opole was used as a reloading port. The left, side arm of the channel was navigated. Already at that time, there was a movable needle dam on Młynówka. Next to the dam (in approx. 1860), a small chamber lock was built to let the water overpass a barrage. In 1911, the needle dam was transformed into a permanent weir.

Description

The weir is located on the 155th kilometre of the Oder, on the Młynówka Channel, to the east from Piastowska Street. The weir was built in order to accumulate water and deepen the channel so as to allow heavier loads on barges. The span of the weir is 38.7 metres. The apron and weir thresholds are built of granite, while the abutments are made of stone. The facility is not fitted with electrical devices - the weir closures are segmented structures operated manually. The lock is situated at the same level as weir. The chamber’s usable length is 56.8 m. Its usable width is 7.5 m, with the depth on the thresholds at a normal water level: top threshold: 2.16 m, bottom threshold: 2.38 m. The top and bottom head of the lock are made of stone, brick, and concrete; the chamber is made of stone and concrete. The height of the chamber walls is 6.9 m. The total time of filling - 15 minutes. The top and bottom gate are comprised of two identical leafs, 6.51 x 4.5 metres in size. The gates are closed manually.

The building is accessible to visitors.

compiled by Aleksandra Ziółkowska, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Opole, 05-12-2015.

Bibliography

• Studium historyczno-urbanistyczne miasta Opola, PKZ Wrocław 1990, Arch. WUOZ w Opolu.
• Karta ewidencyjna zabytków i architektury, Śluza mała, komorowa na Młynówce w Opolu, oprac. dr K. Cygorijni, 1980, Archiwum Wojewódzkiego Urzędu Ochrony Zabytków w Opolu.
• Karta ewidencyjna zabytków i architektury, Jaz stały na Młynówce w Opolu, oprac. dr K. Cygorijni, 1980, Archiwum Wojewódzkiego Urzędu Ochrony Zabytków w Opolu.