The Canal du Midi

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Listed as World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the Canal du Midi and the Fonserannes locks are gems of waterborne tourism in France.

Built during the reign of King Louis XIV by the engineer Pierre Paul Riquet to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean for trade.
Discover a number of remarkable architectural structures from Marseillan to Capestang.
Today, this waterway is ideal for tourism, whether on foot, by bicycle or by boat.

photo Pascal-PARROT.jpg Droit web jusqu OCT 2010

Discover an incredible site designed by a remarkable man

In southern France, back in the 17th century plans were drawn up to link the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. This was made possible thanks to the determination of one man, the ingenious Pierre Paul Riquet, from Béziers.


The Canal du Midi in figures:

  • 14 years' work.
  • 240 km in length, from Toulouse (a city in south-west France) to the Thau Basin.
  • 63 locks and 350 artistic architectural structures.
  • The 9 locks at Fonsérannes, a huge structure comprised of 8 pools spanning more than 300 metres, making it possible to move uphill or downhill by 21.50 m.

Outstanding architectural structures

The Malpas Tunnel, the first of this style, near the Oppidum at Ensérune.
At Agde, the round lock made from volcanic stone is the meeting point of three waterways: the Canal du Midi, the river Hérault and the canal linking the Canal du Midi to the Hérault.
To avoid flooding, navigation was improved through the addition of two artistic architectural structures in 1858: in Béziers, the Canal Bridge above the river Orb, immediately downstream from the Fonsérannes Locks, and the "Libron structures" at Vias.


A waterway devoted to leisure activities

In 1980, freight transport along the Canal du Midi ended. Listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996, the canal is now used for leisure purposes. It can be enjoyed onboard leisure craft, on foot, on horseback or by bicycle along the towpaths.
This is a great way to visit Béziers and its region, with its southern French character influenced by its proud history of winemaking, corrida and rugby!


photo Pascal-PARROT.jpg Droit web jusqu OCT 2010ZOOM
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