Constructed in the reign of Louis XIV, the Canal du Midi is the oldest canal still functioning in Europe. This waterway, envisaged by the engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet, involves some remarkable structures which give his work exceptional interest. His importance is recognised on an international level. UNESCO has, in fact, classed the Canal du Midi among the 469 world heritage sites. This prestigious designation is the result of a collective effort from a region which worked for the recognition of one of its iconic features. The Canal du Midi runs for 240 kilometres between Thau Lake, close by Sete, and Toulouse. It extends to the Atlantic by the offshoot canal to the Garonne for 193 kilometres. 1683 Inauguration 1996 UNESCO world heritage site designation Depth: 2m. Duration of construction: 12 years Engineering features: 328 including 63 locks, 126 bridges, 55 aqueducts, 7 canal bridges, and 6 dams. The number of workers rose from 2,000 at the start of construction in 1667, to 12,000, including women as well as men, divided into 12 divisions, each made up of teams of 50 people coming to the construction site according to their availability. www.wrington.net Canal du Midi Forward Back Canal du Midi