This 360-km network of navigable waterways linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through 328 structures (locks, aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, etc.) Built in the mid-19 th century, the Suez Canal is still one of the most important waterways in the world. [58] Another problem is the invasion of the canal by weeds in the levels and spillways. These channels, called "Rigole de la montagne" (Channel of the Mountain) and "Rigole de la plaine" (Channel of the Plain) connected the upper three reservoirs (Lampy, Cammazes, and Saint-Ferrol) at the seuil de Naurouze. UNESCO/NHK Videos on Heritage. The canal has the following aqueducts (in order from Agde to Toulouse): Pierre-Paul Riquet and the engineers who followed him over three centuries built many other structures on the Canal du Midi, of which the most important are listed here: The canal is a long ribbon of water stretching through the landscape and attracts many animal species. In the 20th century, many locks were changed and therefore no longer have the original features. Platanus (plane trees) is a particular source of problems because their roots destroy the banks and the paved cycle paths and their leaves invade the canal. Strictly speaking, "Canal du Midi" refers to the portion initially constructed from Toulouse to the Mediterranean the Deux-Mers canal project aimed to link together several sections of navigable waterways to join the Mediterranean and the Atlantic: first the Canal du Midi, then the Garonne which was more or less navigable between Toulouse and Bordeaux, then the Garonne Lateral Canal built later, and finally the Gironde estuary after Bordeaux. [13], The projects were not launched for fear of losing too much money and conviction of the human impossibility to dig such a canal. The canal is also a very vegetated place. A canal can be constructed by dredging a channel in the bottom of an existing lake. Related article: Aqueducts on the Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi is an engineering miracle. The draft allowed is 1.50m (4.9ft) although regular users advise that even with 1.40m (4.6ft) boats will occasionally touch the bottom because of silt deposits in many places. The canal can irrigate up to 40,000 hectares (150sqmi) of agricultural land.[76]. However, the idea of linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea began to germinate in the early 16th century with a project envisaged by Franois I and Leonardo da Vinci during his visit to France. So the Port des Minimes and the Port Saint-Etienne were replaced by towpaths. Toggle Operational history of the canal subsection, The edict of Louis XIV and the financing of the project, The number here is the number of separate locations of locks. Finally, just before its arrival at the Mediterranean Sea, the canal has two ports: the port of Agde where there is the old hotel of the "Administration of the Canal", and the port of Onglous at Marseillan which is the last port before Ste and its royal canal giving access to the sea. This commission embarked for Beziers on 2 May 1681 and went up the canal back to Toulouse over six days. The canal was built between 1666 and 1681, under the reign of Louis XIV. The engineer also planted irises on the side of the canal to reduce subsidence of its banks. [26] Even so, Riquet had a scientific approach as he systematically took measurements of flow and made calculations of volumes. [108] As the United States Ambassador to France he envisaged the construction of a similar work to link the Potomac River to Lake Erie. In 1920 freight traffic recovered rapidly with the arrival of motorised barges. The Languedoc region had many resources such as wheat, wine from Minervois, woollen cloth, silk, and salt which producers were struggling to export due to lack of trade. Best medieval castle on the Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi was built between 1666 and 1681 under the rule of Louis XIV and the supervision of Riquet. For historical reasons, the Canal du Midi has a unique legal status, which was codified in 1956[7] in the Public Code of waterways and inland navigation, then in the General code of the property of public persons. The Canal de Garonne, formerly known as Canal latral la Garonne, is a French canal dating from the mid-19th century that connects Toulouse to Castets-en-Dorthe. The Canal du Midi as a grand piece of infrastructural engineering in itself was promoted as worthy of Rome and the political dreams behind it were clarified with plaques in Latin, and walls built with Roman features. This organization facilitates the control and hiring of employees. The employment contract was individual and done by free recruitment. The canal has also provided a supply of drinking water through the water treatment plants at Picotalen (Picotalen I and Picotalen II) since 1973. The Canal du Midi (English Translation ed.). The Canal de Jonction or 'junction canal', built in 1776, gave access to Narbonne via the Canal de la Robine de Narbonne. Canal du Midi was inscribed in 1996 on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (ii), (iv) and (vi) considering that the site is of Outstanding Universal Value being one of the greatest engineering . Similarly, Bernard Forest de Blidor congratulated the designer in Hydraulic Architecture. Despite many precautions, the canal silts up with silt from the water supply. 2016 marks the 350th anniversary of the royal decree authorising Riquet to build the canal, and the 20th anni. who designed and built the Canal du Midi, . It is necessary to re-dig the canal bed every year for two months. The staff quarters and warehouses, as well as the Lampy reservoir, were also added. Finally, Pierre-Paul Riquet was surrounded by aides as well as auditor-generals and inspector-generals of the canal.[51]. In the 1730s commerce thrived and greatly improved agricultural businesses. [74], It attracts more and more river tourism, including sailing on chartered boats, restaurant-boats, or hotel barges such as the Anjodi. For 250 years, horses have pulled many boats such as fast barges or long commercial boats. The Canal du Midi is a summit-level canal because it must pass over a height between two valleys. In France the Briare and Languedoc canals were built, the former linking the Loire and Seine rivers and the latter, also known as the Canal du Midi, or Midi Canal, linking Toulouse with the Mediterranean Sea.Both were remarkable feats of engineering. Nevertheless, maintenance has not been carried out completely because many players are involved: three regions, six departments, and local collective authorities. The project still remained unclear in many respects especially the route of the canal. At the end of the First World War traffic was completely disorganized. The canal had the effect of broadening the sales area of the producers of Languedoc. A museum is located near the outlets and has displays on the history of the construction of the Lake.[91]. [22] At his own expense, of 200,000 livres, he built a test canal, only two feet wide, and on the 9 November 1665 he opened the flow successfully. [90], The Bassin de Saint-Ferrol was and remains the main water reservoir for the canal with a surface of 67 hectares (170 acres). The Chteau de Comtal takes pride of place at the heart and peak of the medieval walled town of Carcassonne, one of the highlights on a river trip down the Canal du Midi. In 1980 there were only two barges (the Bacchus, a wine carrier and the Esprance, a grain carrier) carrying regular traffic between Toulouse and Ste: they definitively ceased their activities in 1989 following the cessation of navigation pronounced by the Prefect of the Region due to drought. It brings together the canal itself (240km), as well as the canals and gullies that feed it (120km in all). [15][16], Many of the structures were designed with neoclassical elements to further echo the king's ambitions to make France a New Rome. The convoy resumed its progress on 20 May with stops in the evening at Villepinte, on the 21st at Penautier, the 22nd at Puicheric, and the 23rd at Roubia. These boats evolved to become faster and more luxurious with lounges and were very large since the largest could reach 30 metres (98ft) long. Now, it's a lovely waterway to cruise in a narrow boat, taking in the . The world is huge. [19] He was inspired by the French engineer Adam de Craponne who had implemented the same system for the Craponne Canal. Commissioned by Louis XIV in 1666, built by the engineer . A great religious ceremony took place on 18 May at the Church of Saint-Roch followed by a procession to the canal to bless the work, the convoy, and the people present. The design canal depth is two metres (6.6ft) with a minimum of 1.80m (5.9ft). He regularly practised experiments and field observations. Canal du Midi This 360-km network of navigable waterways linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic through 328 structures (locks, aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, etc.) The canals of northern France were already at this level and had traffic well above the Canal du Midi. The HPLM company (Le Havre-Paris-Lyon-Marseille) operated 30 boats on the Canal du Midi. The proper Canal Barges were called "owned barge" or "canal barge" and also plied the route. It was built from 1666 to 1681, during the reign of Louis XIV. The Canal du Midi became the third means of transport. [72] Management of the canal was taken over by the State in 1898 who made successive investments to maintain its competitiveness. For this, he planned to recover the mountain waters in dams and reservoirs and then forward them to the Seuil de Naurouze through channels crossing the Seuil de Graissens. [43] He also offered accommodation for two deniers per day. More importantly, he gave benefits never before seen such as non-working rain days, Sundays and public holidays, and finally paid sick leave. Also, the operation of the channel generates low levels of earnings. [64], Freight rates depend on the cargo. The oval locks used the strength of the arch against the inward pressure of the surrounding soil that had destabilized the early locks with straight walls. This time was reduced to 32 hours in 1855 which corresponds to a speed of 11 kilometres per hour (6.8mph) thanks to the replacement of horses every 10 kilometres (6.2mi)[61] pulling boats. From the end of the 20th century, the canal has offered many activities. The building of a canal was an old idea. However, for several years, plane trees have been infected with canker stain, a disease caused by a microscopic fungus called Ceratocystis platani. Under the Act of 27 November 1897,[7] the State of France owns the Canal du Midi and its management is delegated to the public body Voies Navigables de France, attached to the Ministry of Transport. The Canal du Midi is now used primarily by tourists, recreation, and housing. The project formed a tax-exempt "fief" whose owner had the rights of fishing and hunting. From West to East Sites to see along the 400-km network of canals and waterways are: the canal itself, locks, canal bridges, canal tunnels, basins and marinas. It was also a major part of the massive undertaking. Trade blossomed and brought wealth to the communities along the Canal du Midi. This page was last edited on 7 June 2023, at 15:43. Aussi je crois que ces difficults ont tousjours cauzs le dgot et recull l'excution de l'ouvrage mais aujourd'huy Monseigneur, qu'on trouve de routtes aizes et de rivires quy peuvent estre facillement destournes de leur anciens lits et conduites dans ce nouveau canal par pente naturelle et de leur propre inclination, touttes difficults cesent, except celle de trouver un fond pour servir aux frais du travail. Updated: 01/28/2023 What is the Canal du Midi? Finally, many animals and birds come to drink water from the canal. Built between 1666 and 1681, it originally served to move barrels of French wine. Several ports were built at regular intervals along the route of the canal in order to load and unload goods and also to provide stopping-places for travellers. Many came from former Roman bath colonies in the Pyrenees, where elements of classical hydraulics had been maintained as a living tradition. Some of Clerville's men with experience in military engineering came, to build the huge dam for the single reservoir, the Bassin de St. Ferrol, on the river Laudot. Why was the Canal du Midi built? Each Director is responsible for maintenance of his zone and is supported by a receiver and a controller. In 1681 the first inspection took place "dry". Again, the question arose of how to carry water to the Seuil de Naurouze at a greater height than that of Toulouse. [56], In Toulouse, a group of three people form a steering committee: the director general of works, the Receiver General who sets the fees, and the Comptroller General in charge of accounting. [48], The women labourers were surprisingly important to the canal's engineering. Thus in the 17th century, the transportation of wheat cost 12 deniers per quintal and that of oats 6 deniers per quintal.[65]. In addition, individual samples are collected from the water on the area between Revel and the seuil de Naurouze. The channel surrounds the basin and can evacuate any excess water. On the Atlantic side, he proposed several layouts: one to pass by Castres and Revel through the Seuil de Graissens and Agout. The same year the Canal de Brienne allowed the bypass of Bazacle - the ford on the Garonne in Toulouse which blocked the river. Finally, the journeys also took place at night to save even more time. This classification was extended to the canals of the plain and the mountain in 1996 and 2001. cluse de Pechlaurier sur Le canal du Midi construit par Pierre Paul Riquet sous Louis XIV, Canal Royal des Deux Mers pour relier l'Atlantique la. [106] King Louis XIV, who was the sponsor, also left it as a mark of his commitment to grandeur. Numerous and sometimes utopian projects were devised to build a canal between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Le feu roy henry quatriesme ayeul de notre Monarque dsira passionnement de fere cet ouvrage, feu Monsieur le Cardinal de Joyeuse avoit commans d'y fere travailler et feu Monsieur le Cardinal de Richelieu en souhaitoit l'achvement, l'histoire de France, le recueil des uvres dudit Cardinal de Joyeuse et plusieurs autres scrits justiffient cette vrit; mais jusques ce jour l'on n'avoit pas pans aux rivires propres servir ni sceu trouver de routtes aizes pour ce canal, car celles qu'on s'estoit alors imagines estoient avec des obstacles insurmontables de rtrogradation de rivires et de machines pour lever les eaux. Thus, a bourgeois paid three sols per league while a valet or a sailor paid one and a half sols per league. After the Canal du Midi opened in 1681, this feeder was enlarged for navigation, but it was not until 1787 that the missing link, the 'Canal de Jonction', was opened. The illusion of reality, Louis Poeschl-Gillmann (1996) . This magnificent engineering work is 240 kilometers long and was built to. The first is Canal du Midi, built under Louis XIV, which provided Toulouse with access to the Mediterranean Sea some 200 kilometres away. The total rise is 57.18 metres (187.6ft), and the summit level is at an altitude of 189.43 metres (621.5ft). [29], The economic situation of the country was quite difficult at the time. Once used to transport goods and people, the Canal du Midi is now mainly used by boaters and other tourists. You have for that a thousand means, my Lord, and I present to you again two of my memoires attached to help you to consider more that the ease and assurance of this new navigation will make the Straits of Gibraltar cease to be an absolutely necessary passage, that the income of the king of Spain in Cadiz will be reduced and those of our King will rise especially on farms inputs and outputs of goods in this kingdom, in addition the rights received from the said canal will rise to immense sums, and that His Majesty's subjects in general will benefit from a thousand new businesses and will greatly benefit from this navigation, that if I learn that this plan should please you, I will send to you with the number of locks that need to be done and an exact calculation of toises of the said canal, both in length and width.[17]. Animal traction was then a strategic element in the operation of a canal. However, my Lord, please take the trouble to read my mail, so that you may truly judge that this canal is feasible, it is truly difficult because of the cost but it can be seen that the good that will come outweighs the consideration of expense. The Canal du Midi was built during the reign of Louis XIV by the visionary Pierre-Paul Riquet. [14] Such arches had been used by the Romans for retaining walls in Gaul, so this technique was not new, but its application to locks was revolutionary and was imitated in early American canals. They compare it to Roman constructions. Cybelle island in the middle of the basin was used to protect the barges from the wind. I wrote you from Perpignan, on the 28th of last month, on the subject of the collection of salt tax in Roussillon and today I am doing the same in this village, but on a subject far removed from that matter there. The canal became an example in Europe as throughout the Age of Enlightenment it was the only canal of this size in Europe.[107]. The remainder of the route to Bordeaux uses the river Garonne. Also, I believe that these difficulties have always caused distaste which has postponed the execution of the work, but today, my lord, there are easy routes and there are rivers that can be easily diverted from their ancient beds and conducted in this new canal by natural and proper inclination, all difficulties cease, except that of finding the funds to be used for the cost of the work. The width on the surface is 20m (66ft) on average with variations between 16m (52ft) and 20m (66ft). Articles L. 2124-20 to L. 2124-25 set out the rules relating to the maintenance of the canal which is generally the responsibility of the public entity that owns it, with the participation of communes and, in some cases, waterside residents. The rest was to be paid by the State in exchange for profits that Riquet earned from the salt tax. Stretching from Ste on the French Mediterranean coast to the beautiful city of Toulouse, it's one of the oldest waterways in France that was built in the 17th century to link the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.