LE TUNNEL DE MALPAS

Here, if it were still necessary, is proof of Pierre-Paul Riquet's genius. After passing the nine locks of Fonseranes, the Grand Bief opens up: 54 km of canal without locks, but with a significant passage, that of the Malpas breakthrough. Arriving at the foot of the Ensérune hill, the engineer had a river tunnel dug through this friable rock in 1679. The Canal du Midi is 173 m long, 6 m wide and 8.5 m high, thus avoiding a long detour. The tunnel is flanked by a 3 m wide towpath.