LE CANAL DU MIDI
MARSEILLAN
Presentation
Designed under the reign of Louis XIV by Pierre-Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1681, the Canal du Midi is one of the most daring achievements of French civil engineering. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, this 240-kilometer royal canal links Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea, crossing four départements thanks to exceptional engineering structures that bear witness to the ingenuity of its designers.
The canal culminates in Marseillan, at the pointe des Onglous, where its waters flow majestically into the Thau lagoon. This lagoon, 19 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, is a veritable inland sea that joins the Mediterranean Sea.
The Pointe des Onglous itself is an emblematic site, symbolically marking the end of the Canal du Midi. This unique site, guarded by its distinctive lighthouse, offers a breathtaking panorama of the Thau lagoon and represents the meeting point between Riquet's work and the waters of the lagoon. Accessible on foot or by bike, this wild point invites contemplation and allows us to fully appreciate the scale of this technical feat, which dates back more than three centuries.
It was precisely to create this maritime connection that Sète was born in 1666. Colbert and the Chevalier de Clerville chose to build the new port at the foot of Mont Saint-Clair. The construction of the Saint-Louis mole and a 650-meter pier linked the sea to the Thau lagoon, giving birth to a port city that quickly became a major stopover for Languedoc trade.
Today, the Canal du Midi and its outlet into the Thau lagoon offer yachtsmen a unique experience, combining an exceptional historical heritage with the discovery of an unspoilt region where shellfish farming traditions, lagoon landscapes and the Mediterranean art of living come together.
During your visit, remember to preserve the beauty of this exceptional site by respecting the fauna and flora, as well as the tranquility of the area and other visitors who also come to enjoy this unspoilt nature.
The canal culminates in Marseillan, at the pointe des Onglous, where its waters flow majestically into the Thau lagoon. This lagoon, 19 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, is a veritable inland sea that joins the Mediterranean Sea.
The Pointe des Onglous itself is an emblematic site, symbolically marking the end of the Canal du Midi. This unique site, guarded by its distinctive lighthouse, offers a breathtaking panorama of the Thau lagoon and represents the meeting point between Riquet's work and the waters of the lagoon. Accessible on foot or by bike, this wild point invites contemplation and allows us to fully appreciate the scale of this technical feat, which dates back more than three centuries.
It was precisely to create this maritime connection that Sète was born in 1666. Colbert and the Chevalier de Clerville chose to build the new port at the foot of Mont Saint-Clair. The construction of the Saint-Louis mole and a 650-meter pier linked the sea to the Thau lagoon, giving birth to a port city that quickly became a major stopover for Languedoc trade.
Today, the Canal du Midi and its outlet into the Thau lagoon offer yachtsmen a unique experience, combining an exceptional historical heritage with the discovery of an unspoilt region where shellfish farming traditions, lagoon landscapes and the Mediterranean art of living come together.
During your visit, remember to preserve the beauty of this exceptional site by respecting the fauna and flora, as well as the tranquility of the area and other visitors who also come to enjoy this unspoilt nature.
Information
- Category :
- World Heritage (UNESCO)
Equipment & Services
- Equipment :
- Canals
Contact
LE CANAL DU MIDI
Chemin du Canal du Midi
34340
MARSEILLAN
Destination
LE CANAL DU MIDI
Chemin du Canal du Midi
34340
MARSEILLAN
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 43.3215019
Longitude : 3.53187391