07 CANAL DU MIDI | Breil inland waterways guide

inland waterways guide

The canal du Midi, the La Nouvelle branch canal, the Hérault, the étang de Thau, the canal du Rhône à Sète, the Lez, Petit Rhône and the canal rom Arles to Bouc

• Last updated 2022

The canal du Midi, work of Pierre Paul Riquet and his illustrious successor the maréchal Vauban, is most famous for the quality of its waterways structures. But as you cruise along the canal, you can go past these wonders without even noticing them. In this guide we have included drawings of the most interesting aqueducts, canal bridges, spillways and syphons. During your cruise, take the time to get off your boat and take a close look at some of these engineering feats of the 17th century.

The canal is also known for its magnificent plane trees. Over the last few years, these have been victims to a terrible disease, Canker Stain. It is recognised that the disease is spread, among other things by your boat. With the help of the navigation authorities, we have made a list of precautions to take in the hope of restricting it to the Mediterranean side of the canal.

It is hard to imagine the canal du Midi without its lock-keepers. But everything must evolve and, on the single locks, they are being progressively replaced by machines. During the course of the year 2020, they are even being replaced on some double locks.

At the end of the canal, you will come to the Étang de Thau, a little inland sea that offers difficult navigation conditions when the Marine Wind is blowing. On our map of the Étang, we have added a photo of the approaches to each port.

Our voyage comes to an end in the Rhône delta, a region known for the quantity and variety of its bird life. For the bird lovers among you, we have described the most popular species and some of their habits. We also indicate the places you will be able to observe them.