Canal du Midi

Visit the Canal du Midi

Designed by Pierre Paul Ricquet, the Canal du Midi dates back to the 17th century. Stretching 240 km from the Etang de Thau to Toulouse, the Canal du Midi took 14 years to build and involved thousands of workers armed with shovels and pickaxes. A native of Béziers, Pierre Paul Ricquet devoted his life and fortune to the Canal du Midi. Ironically, he died 7 months before completion, with only 1.6 km to go before reaching the Etang de Thau. In May 1681, the "Canal Royal de Languedoc" was officially inaugurated.

The canal is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its banks, lined with plane trees, are an invitation to hike, mountain bike or take a barge ride. Navigation from Toulouse to the ocean used to take place on the Garonne. In the 18th century, a canal running parallel to the river made the waterway safer.