Bazacle facts for kids
The Bazacle is a special place on the Garonne River in the city of Toulouse, France. It's a mix of old structures and modern technology. For hundreds of years, people have used the river here for different purposes.
The name Bazacle comes from an old Latin word, vadaculum, which means "little ford." A ford is a shallow place where you can cross a river. This spot was first used as a ford in the 1100s. It was the easiest place to cross the Garonne because the water was not very deep. Later, the first bridge across the Garonne River was built right here.
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The Bazacle Mills: An Early Business
Building the First Mills
Around 1190, a powerful local leader named Raymond V of Toulouse gave permission for something new to be built. Workers constructed a type of dam, called a chaussée, and several mills next to it. These mills used the river's strong current to grind grain. They became very famous. In the 1500s, a writer named Rabelais even said they were the most powerful mills in the world!
How the Mill Company Worked
About 1250, a group of local landowners, called seigneurs, took over the mills. They formed a company called the Société des Moulins du Bazacle, or the Bazacle Milling Company. This company was quite unique for its time.
The owners shared the money the mills earned based on how many "shares" they owned. These shares could be bought and sold in Toulouse, just like stocks in a modern company! The value of the shares went up or down depending on how well the mills were doing. This company lasted a very long time, until 1946. It is sometimes called one of the first examples of a Joint-stock company, which is a business owned by many shareholders.
Bazacle Today: Power and Nature
Generating Electricity
In 1890, a new kind of power plant was built at the Bazacle. This was a hydroelectric power station. It used the force of the river's water to create electricity for Toulouse. In 1946, a large French electricity company, Électricité de France, bought the plant.
Today, you can still see both old and new turbines working at the Bazacle. It's a great way to learn about how we use water to make power.
Helping Fish Travel
The Bazacle isn't just about power; it also helps nature. There is a special path in the river called a fish ladder. This ladder allows fish to swim past the dam and continue their journey up or down the river. It helps them reach their spawning grounds or feeding areas.
See also
In Spanish: Bazacle para niños
