The Canal Du Midi

The Canal du Midi was constructed to be a shortcut between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, a way of avoiding the long sea voyage around hostile Spain, a trip which required a full month of sailing. In 1516, King Francis invited Leonardo da Vinci to France to map out a route from the Garonne River in Toulouse to the Aude River in Carcassonne, but it was not until 1662 that someone devised a way to supply the future canal with water. That someone was a royal judge named Pierre-Paul Riquet, he commissioned engineers, military officers, and water experts to start the project. Construction of an enormous dam that would supply the canal with water began in the late 1660s, replacing water that drained out to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. After over a decade of labour by more than 12,000 workers from throughout France, the canal officially opened in 1681.

The 240km (150mile) stretch of water, which is the Canal du Midi encompasses over 300 structures. It is a navigable route incorporating aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, paths for horses to pull boats, resting areas for travelers and animals and most importantly 156 locks, many of which have become tourist stops and promenades today. Commercial ships continued to use the canal until the 1980s, after which time traffic began to decline, stopping altogether in 1989 when the waterway was closed during a drought. In 1996, the canal was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is still frequently used by leisure boaters today.