Canal de Garonne
Encyclopedia
The Canal de Garonne, formerly known as Canal latéral à la Garonne, is a French canal dating from the 19th century which connects Toulouse
to Castets-en-Dorthe
. The remainder of the route to Bordeaux
uses the Garonne
River. It is the continuation of the Canal du Midi
which connects the Mediterranean with Toulouse. Together they and the Garonne
River form the Canal des Deux Mers
which connects the Mediterranean Sea
to the Atlantic Ocean
.
, crosses the river in Agen
via the Agen aqueduct
, then continues along the left bank. It is connected to the Canal du Midi
at its source in Toulouse, and emerges at Castets-en-Dorthe
on the Garonne, 54 km southwest of Bordeaux, a point where the river is navigable.
The canal is supplied with water from the Garonne by two routes:
With the exception of the five locks at Montech, bypassed by the water slope
, all of the locks have a length of 40.5m and a width of 6m. The locks at Montech retained the old gauge of 30m.
Many bridges cross the canal including eighty-three overbridges. Many were rebuilt in 1933 to allow for the requirements of larger boats.
. This route, more than 3,000 kilometres long subjected navigators to the risks of attack and storms.
Nero
and Augustus
in ancient times, then Charlemagne
, Francis I of France
, Charles IX of France
and Henry IV of France
all had an ambition to construct a canal which avoided the aforementioned detour. All of them asked for the idea to be studied, many projects resulted but none were realised. The greatest difficulty was in supplying sufficient water at the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic to ensure continuous navigation.
Between 1614 and 1662, under the influence of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, five projects were born but none solved the water supply problem. Then in 1662 Pierre-Paul Riquet, inspired by the theories of Adam de Craponne
put into practice at the beginning of the same century by Hugues Cosnier
for the "canal de Loyre en Seyne" (or "canal de Briare"), sought to bring water to the place which would be the canal du Midi (between Toulouse and Sète
), at a watershed near Seuil de Naurouze
, where water flows both to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. His knowledge of the Montagne Noire
and its watercourses led him to imagine a system of provision based on the diversion of water from many streams and rivers.
This enabled the transport to cross the watershed, but it still had to use the Garonne to reach the ocean and this presented more problems with floods and groundings as the size of cargo boats increased.
built the Canal Royal du Languedoc (now known as the Canal du Midi
) between Sète
and Toulouse
from 1667-1681 he had the idea of continuing the canal closer to the Atlantic: the future Canal Latéral à la Garonne. However the successive enlargements of the Château de Versailles and the poor record of Louis XIV emptied the kingdom's coffers and the project never materialised. For two centuries people had to be content with the navigation of the Garonne.
It was not until 1828 that a new survey was ordered, a survey completed in 1830. France was in its industrial revolution and it was vital for its development that better methods of transportation of raw materials were created. This was the purpose of the Becquey plan of 1821 to 1822. However it was only in 1832 that the state granted the concession in perpetuity to the private Magendie-Sion company owned by Sieur Doin. The act allowing the construction of the Canal Latéral à la Garonne envisioned the provision of water from the Garonne utilising the Canal de Saint-Pierre
or the Canal de Brienne
. However, Sieur Doin did not agree with these commitments, the state falling back on its rights raised the possibility of forfeiture of the concession in a new act of 9 July 1835 which fixed new construction dates. Sieur Doin died before the work started.
A third act in 1838 allocated a sum of 100,000 francs to the heirs of Sieur Dion and repurchased the parts of the project for 150,000 francs. The project was then taken back into hand by the state with the divisionary inspector of Bridges and Roads Jean-Baptiste de Baudre in charge and began in 1838 with a budget of forty million francs. Construction began at several points simultaneously with thousands of workmen building the 193 kilometres of canal and remarkable structures such as the famous Agen aqueduct
.
In 1844, the section from Toulouse
to Montech
to Montauban
was open. The canal was open for navigation to Buzet-sur-Baïse
in 1853 and upstream by 1856.
In the beginning the railway did not compete with water transport but later the state conceded the canal's exploitation rights to the Compagnie de Chemin de Fer du Midi
, the direct competitor of the boatmen. The railway company increased the levies on water transport such that when the concession was withdrawn in 1898 the damage was already done. Indeed between 1850 and 1893, water freight diminished by two thirds.
However, until about 1970, the Canal Latéral à la Garonne was still concerned mainly with the transport of goods.
, to deal with increasing traffic on both the canals of the Canal des deux Mers. But it was a new kind of traffic which saved the connection between the two seas: river and canal tourism.
This developed enormously after 1970. Boats brought visitors to an exceptional site of natural and historical significance. In 1996 the canal du Midi was classed as a UNESCO world heritage site benefiting the connecting Canal de Garonne as well.
More than half the tourism activity is concerned with the hiring of unlicensed boats: nearly 1000 boats travel between the Mediterranean and Atlantic and vice versa each year. The professional boat services include hotel boats such as the Saint Louis
and boat restaurants etc.
From 12 boats in 1970, the tourist fleet counts for 450 boats today and employs 500 people on a permanent basis. The economic impact of this activity is important, augmenting by 10 to 60% the parts of the economy relating to the canal in the towns and villages through which it passes. The tourist industry contributes €26m per year.
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
to Castets-en-Dorthe
Castets-en-Dorthe
Castets-en-Dorthe is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.The village lies at the junction of the Canal de Garonne with the River Garonne.-Population:-External link:*...
. The remainder of the route to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
uses the Garonne
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
River. It is the continuation of the Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
which connects the Mediterranean with Toulouse. Together they and the Garonne
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
River form the Canal des Deux Mers
Canal des Deux Mers
The Canal des Deux Mers has been used to describe two different but similar things since the 1660s. In some cases, it is used interchangeably with the Canal du Midi. In others, it describes the path from Atlantic to the Mediterranean, of which the Canal du Midi was the first man-made component...
which connects the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Description
The canal skirts the right bank of the GaronneGaronne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
, crosses the river in Agen
Agen
Agen is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It lies on the river Garonne southeast of Bordeaux. It is the capital of the department.-Economy:The town has a higher level of unemployment than the national average...
via the Agen aqueduct
Agen aqueduct
The Agen Aqueduct is an aqueduct which carries the canal de Garonne across the Garonne. It is located in the Agen commune, in the Aquitaine region of France.-Description:...
, then continues along the left bank. It is connected to the Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
at its source in Toulouse, and emerges at Castets-en-Dorthe
Castets-en-Dorthe
Castets-en-Dorthe is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.The village lies at the junction of the Canal de Garonne with the River Garonne.-Population:-External link:*...
on the Garonne, 54 km southwest of Bordeaux, a point where the river is navigable.
The canal is supplied with water from the Garonne by two routes:
- The Canal de BrienneCanal de BrienneThe Canal de Brienne is a French canal connecting the Garonne River with the Canal du Midi and the Canal de Garonne. It has two locks. The lock opening to the Garonne is known as Ecluse Saint-Pierre. The lock nearer to the Canal du Midi usually stands open.The canal is in the centre of Toulouse,...
in Toulouse - The Laboulbène drain in Agen (underground)
With the exception of the five locks at Montech, bypassed by the water slope
Water slope
A water slope is a type of canal inclined plane built to carry boats from a canal or river at one elevation up to or down to a canal or river at another elevation.-Operation:...
, all of the locks have a length of 40.5m and a width of 6m. The locks at Montech retained the old gauge of 30m.
Many bridges cross the canal including eighty-three overbridges. Many were rebuilt in 1933 to allow for the requirements of larger boats.
Canal Specifications
| Width | 18 m at water level |
| Total Length | 193 km |
| Number of Locks | 53 |
| Difference in level | 128 m |
| Mooring depth 2.2 m for a draught of | 1.80 m |
| Headroom beneath bridges and other structures | 3.60 m |
History
Despite being inaugurated in 1856, the Canal de Garonne has been considered a possibility since ancient times.Study of the project and origin of the Canal du Midi
Before the Canal du Midi was constructed, the passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea was down the Spanish coast and through the Strait of GibraltarStrait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
. This route, more than 3,000 kilometres long subjected navigators to the risks of attack and storms.
Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
and Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
in ancient times, then Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, Charles IX of France
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
and Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
all had an ambition to construct a canal which avoided the aforementioned detour. All of them asked for the idea to be studied, many projects resulted but none were realised. The greatest difficulty was in supplying sufficient water at the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic to ensure continuous navigation.
Between 1614 and 1662, under the influence of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, five projects were born but none solved the water supply problem. Then in 1662 Pierre-Paul Riquet, inspired by the theories of Adam de Craponne
Adam de Craponne
Adam de Craponne was a French engineer.-Life:Born in 1526 in Salon-de-Provence, between 1557 and 1558, Craponne built the channel bearing his name. The Canal de Craponne enabled irrigation of the desertic Crau with water coming from the Durance...
put into practice at the beginning of the same century by Hugues Cosnier
Hugues Cosnier
Hugues Cosnier was a French engineer who conceived of the Briare Canal. He was born in Angers or Tours, date unknown, and died in 1629.He proposed to Henri IV the idea of building a canal from the Loire River to the River Seine. It would go from Briare to Montargis and then continue to the Seine...
for the "canal de Loyre en Seyne" (or "canal de Briare"), sought to bring water to the place which would be the canal du Midi (between Toulouse and Sète
Sète
Sète is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Sétois....
), at a watershed near Seuil de Naurouze
Seuil de Naurouze
The Seuil de Naurouze, aka Col de Naurouze, is a mountain pass in southern France. It is the watershed point identified by Pierre-Paul Riquet when he designed and built the Canal du Midi. Water falling on the western side of this point flows to the Atlantic Ocean and on the eastern side to the...
, where water flows both to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. His knowledge of the Montagne Noire
Montagne Noire
* Not to be confused with the Montagnes Noires in Brittany.The Montagne Noire is a mountain range in central southern France. It is located at the southwestern end of the Massif Central in the border area of the Tarn, Hérault and Aude departments...
and its watercourses led him to imagine a system of provision based on the diversion of water from many streams and rivers.
This enabled the transport to cross the watershed, but it still had to use the Garonne to reach the ocean and this presented more problems with floods and groundings as the size of cargo boats increased.
Construction of the canal
It is said that when Pierre-Paul RiquetPierre-Paul Riquet
Pierre-Paul Riquet was the engineer and canal-builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi.-Background:...
built the Canal Royal du Languedoc (now known as the Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
) between Sète
Sète
Sète is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Sétois....
and Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
from 1667-1681 he had the idea of continuing the canal closer to the Atlantic: the future Canal Latéral à la Garonne. However the successive enlargements of the Château de Versailles and the poor record of Louis XIV emptied the kingdom's coffers and the project never materialised. For two centuries people had to be content with the navigation of the Garonne.
It was not until 1828 that a new survey was ordered, a survey completed in 1830. France was in its industrial revolution and it was vital for its development that better methods of transportation of raw materials were created. This was the purpose of the Becquey plan of 1821 to 1822. However it was only in 1832 that the state granted the concession in perpetuity to the private Magendie-Sion company owned by Sieur Doin. The act allowing the construction of the Canal Latéral à la Garonne envisioned the provision of water from the Garonne utilising the Canal de Saint-Pierre
Canal de Brienne
The Canal de Brienne is a French canal connecting the Garonne River with the Canal du Midi and the Canal de Garonne. It has two locks. The lock opening to the Garonne is known as Ecluse Saint-Pierre. The lock nearer to the Canal du Midi usually stands open.The canal is in the centre of Toulouse,...
or the Canal de Brienne
Canal de Brienne
The Canal de Brienne is a French canal connecting the Garonne River with the Canal du Midi and the Canal de Garonne. It has two locks. The lock opening to the Garonne is known as Ecluse Saint-Pierre. The lock nearer to the Canal du Midi usually stands open.The canal is in the centre of Toulouse,...
. However, Sieur Doin did not agree with these commitments, the state falling back on its rights raised the possibility of forfeiture of the concession in a new act of 9 July 1835 which fixed new construction dates. Sieur Doin died before the work started.
A third act in 1838 allocated a sum of 100,000 francs to the heirs of Sieur Dion and repurchased the parts of the project for 150,000 francs. The project was then taken back into hand by the state with the divisionary inspector of Bridges and Roads Jean-Baptiste de Baudre in charge and began in 1838 with a budget of forty million francs. Construction began at several points simultaneously with thousands of workmen building the 193 kilometres of canal and remarkable structures such as the famous Agen aqueduct
Agen aqueduct
The Agen Aqueduct is an aqueduct which carries the canal de Garonne across the Garonne. It is located in the Agen commune, in the Aquitaine region of France.-Description:...
.
In 1844, the section from Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
to Montech
Montech
Montech is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.-References:*...
to Montauban
Montauban
Montauban is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse....
was open. The canal was open for navigation to Buzet-sur-Baïse
Buzet-sur-Baïse
Buzet-sur-Baïse is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France.-See also:*Communes of the Lot-et-Garonne department...
in 1853 and upstream by 1856.
The canal before 1970
The canal was completed at the same time as the Bordeaux to Sète railway which followed the same route. The first trains left Agen station in 1857.In the beginning the railway did not compete with water transport but later the state conceded the canal's exploitation rights to the Compagnie de Chemin de Fer du Midi
Chemin de Fer du Midi
The Chemin de Fer du Midi, often abbreviated to CF du Midi, was an early French railway company.In 1934 it merged with the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans to become part of the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi ....
, the direct competitor of the boatmen. The railway company increased the levies on water transport such that when the concession was withdrawn in 1898 the damage was already done. Indeed between 1850 and 1893, water freight diminished by two thirds.
However, until about 1970, the Canal Latéral à la Garonne was still concerned mainly with the transport of goods.
The canal after 1970
In the years before 1970 the canal was upgraded to allow larger boats of the Freycinet gaugeFreycinet gauge
The Freycinet gauge is a standard governing the dimensions of the locks of some canals, put in place as a result of a law passed during the tenure of Charles de Freycinet as prime minister of France, dating from 5 August 1879....
, to deal with increasing traffic on both the canals of the Canal des deux Mers. But it was a new kind of traffic which saved the connection between the two seas: river and canal tourism.
This developed enormously after 1970. Boats brought visitors to an exceptional site of natural and historical significance. In 1996 the canal du Midi was classed as a UNESCO world heritage site benefiting the connecting Canal de Garonne as well.
More than half the tourism activity is concerned with the hiring of unlicensed boats: nearly 1000 boats travel between the Mediterranean and Atlantic and vice versa each year. The professional boat services include hotel boats such as the Saint Louis
Saint Louis (hotel barge)
The Saint Louis is a Luxemotor hotel barge, built by Boot a Alphen in Holland in 1923. She was built as a bulk carrier and served in the Dutch seas and inland waterways carrying cargoes of grain and gravel until around 1985...
and boat restaurants etc.
From 12 boats in 1970, the tourist fleet counts for 450 boats today and employs 500 people on a permanent basis. The economic impact of this activity is important, augmenting by 10 to 60% the parts of the economy relating to the canal in the towns and villages through which it passes. The tourist industry contributes €26m per year.
Infrastructure
- The locksLock (water transport)A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
: the canal originally had 56 locks to which 4 locks were added to make the connection with the River GaronneGaronneThe Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
at Castets-en-DortheCastets-en-DortheCastets-en-Dorthe is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.The village lies at the junction of the Canal de Garonne with the River Garonne.-Population:-External link:*...
. - The Montech water slopeMontech water slopeThe Montech water slope is a type of canal inclined plane built on the Canal de Garonne, in the commune of Montech, Tarn-et-Garonne, South West France...
: this structure came into service in 1974, the brainchild of the engineer Jean AubertJean Aubert (engineer)Jean Aubert was a French engineer. In 1961 he used the idea of the German engineer Julius Greve from the last century to describe a pente d'eau, which was a way of moving boats up the gradient of a canal without locks. The design consisted of a sloping channel through which a wedge of water on...
. The slope allows a flight of five locks to be bypassed by large vessels (only) but is currently (2010) out of commission. - The Aqueducts: seven aqueducts allow the canal to cross the River GaronneGaronneThe Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
and its tributaries, such as that over the River BaïseBaïseThe Baïse is a 188 km long river in south-western France, left tributary of the Garonne. Its source is in the foothills of the Pyrenees, near Lannemezan...
. The most significant two are the Agen aqueductAgen aqueductThe Agen Aqueduct is an aqueduct which carries the canal de Garonne across the Garonne. It is located in the Agen commune, in the Aquitaine region of France.-Description:...
, 600 metres long with 23 arches and the Cacor Aqueduct at MoissacMoissacMoissac is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is famous world-wide mostly for the artistic heritage handed down by the ancient Saint-Pierre Abbey.-History:...
over the River TarnTarn RiverThe Tarn is a long river in southern France , right tributary of the Garonne.The Tarn runs in a roughly westerly direction, from its source at an altitude of 1,550 m on Mont Lozère in the Cévennes mountains , through the deep gorges and canyons of the Gorges du Tarn The Tarn is a long...
, 356 metres long with 13 arches. - A lock at MoissacMoissacMoissac is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is famous world-wide mostly for the artistic heritage handed down by the ancient Saint-Pierre Abbey.-History:...
allows a connection to the lowest section of the TarnTarn RiverThe Tarn is a long river in southern France , right tributary of the Garonne.The Tarn runs in a roughly westerly direction, from its source at an altitude of 1,550 m on Mont Lozère in the Cévennes mountains , through the deep gorges and canyons of the Gorges du Tarn The Tarn is a long...
and a small part of the GaronneGaronneThe Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
. - The Canal de MontechCanal de MontechThe Canal de Montech is a 10.9 km waterway in southwestern France connecting the Canal de Garonne in Montech and the Tarn River in Montauban. Also known as the Montauban Branch...
, also known as the Montauban Branch, provides a connection from the main line of the Canal de Garonne, at MontechMontechMontech is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.-References:*...
, with the Tarn higher upstream at MontaubanMontaubanMontauban is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse....
. A proposal exists to create a waterway ring by restoring navigation to the stretch of the Tarn between Moissac and Montauban.
See also
- List of canals in France
- Canal du MidiCanal du MidiThe is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
- Pierre-Paul RiquetPierre-Paul RiquetPierre-Paul Riquet was the engineer and canal-builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi.-Background:...
External links
- Canal de Garonne navigation guide Guide to the Canal de Garonne; places, ports and moorings on the canal.
- canaldegaronne.com : web site dedicated at the "canal de Garonne" (in the course of drafting), in French, soon in English
- The French article from which this article was originally translated
- Canal du Midi - Canal Latéral à la Garonne
- Dictionnaire des voies navigables de France : Canal de Garonne, in French