PONT DU GARD
Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, this architectural jewel offers an ...Read more
LA CITÉ MÉDIÉVALE DE CARCASSONNE
Take a tour of one of Europe's largest fortified towns! On the program: the ...Read more
LA FORTERESSE DE SALSES
A true specimen of the transition between medieval castle and modern ...Read more
CANAL DU MIDI
Read moreDesigned by Pierre-Paul Riquet (1609-1680) and motivated by the wheat trade, Canal du Midi was shaped by the hand of man. It began the era of the Industrial Revolution by allowing to rally, by its 240 kilometers, the Atlantic Ocean, via the Garonne, to the Mediterranean Sea. Its journey begins in Toulouse and ends in Marseillan - the other part connecting the Atlantic begins in Toulouse and ends in Castets-en-Dorthe (Canal de Garonne). It was made between 1667 and 1694 and two thousand workers were hired from January 1667. This number rose to twelve thousand, including six hundred women, to alleviate the shortage of men. The work was carried out in three major projects: the first from Toulouse to Trèbes (east of Carcassonne) which includes the basins and water supply systems, the second towards the south of Trèbes to the pond of Thau, and the third that was the construction of the harbour of Sète. To address the problem of leveling throughout the course, more than 60 locks had to be built, Riquet was perfectly conscious of helping to forge a symbol of the power of the 17th-century France, while giving the country a functional communication channel. He thus particularly made sure that the quality of the canal's architecture is worthy of this function. The bridges, the locks and the structures associated with them, as well as the tunnel entrances were designed and drawn with a great sense of aesthetic combined with technical constraints, the whole includes no less than 328 works of art and 63 locks. He was also extremely conscious of the impact of his work on the landscape and took great care to ensure that it was properly bordered by trees and by vegetation in harmony with the landscapes crossed. Since 1996, this performance has rightly been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Having the width of 10 to 20 meters and deep of about 2 meters, the canal passes to its highest point at the threshold of Naurouze, at the border of the department of Aude and Haute Garonne in the Lauragais. Its history with Carcassonne was quite complex since, at the completion of the first route, the canal was 2 kilometers from the city. A link between the city and the canal was suggested in 1686 by Vauban but it was only a century later, in 1787, that the construction of a new route was ordered and was completed in 1810 and that wouldl definitely set the canal in its current configuration.
THE FORT DE BELLEGARDE
Fort located on the hill of Bellegarde, offering an exceptional panorama ...Read more
ARENAS OF NÎMES
One of the best preserved arenas in the world, an essential vestige of ...Read more
CHÂTEAU COMTAL ET REMPARTS DE LA CITÉ DE CARCASSONNE
Take a tour of one of Europe's largest fortified towns! On the program: the ...Read more
LEUCATE TOURIST OFFICE
A tourist office with a store area, and an opportunity to attend the ...Read more
CHÂTEAU AUZIAS - CAVEAU
For several years now, Château d'Auzias has been a haven of peace for a ...Read more
CHÂTEAU DE CHALABRE
This castle offers a historical immersion through medieval activities, ...Read more
CASTLE OF QUILLAN
Castle on a promontory overlooking Quillan, testifying to the military ...Read more
MOUNTAIN BIKE CIRCUIT OF THE HOLY BALSAM
Mountain bike circuit of 34 km of La Sainte-Baumeexperiment, with a ...Read more
SAINTE-MARIE CHURCH
Romanesque church built in the 10th century, whose portal is remarkable for ...Read more
BUREAU D'INFORMATION TOURISTIQUE DE VIAS
Read moreThe Vias tourist information office will provide you with all the information you need to plan your stay. The team will be able to advise you on activities, accommodations and restaurants in the area. You will also be able to access the ticket office to book your guided tours, escapades, shows and much more. Access is provided for people with reduced mobility and a magnetic loop is available for the hearing impaired.
MOUNT AIGOUAL
A mountain in the southern Massif Central, the highest point in the Gard ...Read more
NAVACELLE CIRCUS
Classified as a "Grand site de France", the circus is without doubt the ...Read more
SEAQUARIUM INSTITUT
A seaquarium dedicated to marine life, with interactive trails and exhibits ...Read more
CEVENNES NATIONAL PARK
This natural oasis in the south of France is one of the country's ten ...Read more
LE TROUVE TOUT DU LIVRE
This spectacular bookshop with over 60,000 books on its shelves is a ...Read more