canal du midi
states: [france]
category: cultural
year: 1996
location: Region of Midi-Pyrénées (departments of Haute-Garonne and Tarn); Region of Languedoc-Roussillon (departments of l'Aude and l'Herault)
region: Europe and North America
latitude/longitude: 43.6113888900, 1.4163888890
last visited: 2018
unesco id: 770
world heritage site: 770
The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site in France, is a remarkable 17th-century engineering feat stretching 240 kilometers, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Constructed between 1666 and 1681 under Pierre-Paul Riquet’s direction, it features 91 locks, numerous bridges, and aqueducts, showcasing innovative hydraulic design. Originally built for trade and transport, it now serves as a popular route for boating and tourism, celebrated for its historical significance and picturesque tree-lined waterways.
