Hotels Toulouse close to Canal du Midi (Toulouse, France)
The prices and availability we receive from booking sites change constantly. This means you may not always find the exact same offer you saw on trivago when you land on the booking site.
The prices and availability we receive from booking sites change constantly. This means you may not always find the exact same offer you saw on trivago when you land on the booking site.
The Canal du Midi was a triumph of engineering when it was built in the 17th century and has been recognised as such by its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It ““paved the way for the Industrial Revolution”” by linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean without the need to sail round Gibraltar. Although the idea had been mooted for centuries, it was Jean-Paul Riquet who provided the engineering skills. The Canal is 240km long from Toulouse to Sa¨te which was purpose built for the Canal. It linked into the Garonne at Toulouse for onward sailing to Bordeaux. The Garonne could be difficult to navigate, so the Canal Latérale was constructed in the mid 19th century to create the Canal des Deux Mers. The Canal du Midi remains the oldest working canal in Europe, and remains of the elaborate lock structures are still visible. One of Riquet’s greatest engineering achievements was to solve the problem of getting water to the highest points. He solved this by building the Saint Ferréol dam, a magnificent feat for the time. In Toulouse the Canal joins the Canal Latérale at the Bassin de l’Embouchure and there is an allegorical bas relief depicting the joining of the waters. Today the Canal is a major tourist attraction offering boating holidays and trips, and cycling or walking along the tree-lined towpaths.
Canal du Midi is one of the top attractions in Toulouse, known for its unique features that attract numerous visitors each year.
Discover nearby attractions, such as Canal du Midi, Stade Ernest Wallon, Jardin Compans Caffarelli, Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis, Eglise St Pierre des Chartreux, all within a convenient distance from Canal du Midi.