The Rigole de la Montagne
You’ve most likely heard of the famous Canal du Midi,
but are you aware of its history and supply system, the ‘Rigole de la Montagne’ (mountain channel)?
THE SOURCE OF THE CANAL DU MIDI
The Montagne Noire is overflowing with water, so it’s hardly surprising that Pierre-Paul Riquet chose it to supply the Canal du Midi.
How does the Canal du Midi get its water supply? Where can we find sufficient water? And how can we divert the water to where it’s needed? These are the many problems Pierre-Paul Riquet faced at the start of this mammoth project. At first, he even considered using water from the Pyrenees!
The story goes that he was visiting his fiancée in Saint-Félix-Lauragais travelling from Béziers and he crossed the Montagne Noire on horseback. This is how he became aware of the sheer abundance of water in this region and decided to build an ingenious system of canals, a key component of which was the ‘Rigole de la Montagne’.
THE ALZEAU INLET
A natural boundary between the departments of Aude and Tarn, the Alzeau river benefits from plentiful rainfall throughout the year, making it the ideal waterway to provide a constant supply of water to the Canal du Midi.
This was a dilemma for Riquet, as no one really believed that the Alzeau had sufficient flow to supply enough water to the Canal du Midi. So, he dug a test trench at his own cost, and thankfully, after two years of testing, it proved to be successful!
The King finally gave Pierre-Paul Riquet his authorisation to dig out the ‘Rigole de la Montagne’ which still supplies the Canal du Midi today.
As you can see, it was decided to build the Alzeau inlet on the outskirts of the village of Lacombe, at an elevation of 680 metres in 1667, to tap and then divert the water towards the Rigole.
The inlet became the source for the Canal du Midi. This technical masterpiece is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the Canal du Midi.
When you come to visit this iconic place, you’ll also notice the Maison de Garde, classified as a Historic Monument in France. These ruins are a reminder of the many structures and employees required to keep the Canal du Midi and its supply systems in good working order.
WALKING ALONG THE RIGOLE DE LA MONTAGNE
The Rigole de la Montagne is completely flat, making it the ideal place for a stroll, suitable for everyone.
You can explore this easy, almost 25 km route on foot, on horseback or by bike!
There are several departure points, including the Alzeau inlet, Lampy Neuf dam, Conquet, Cammazes and the Cammazes tunnel.
In summer, you’ll enjoy this exploration alongside the ‘Rigole’ thanks to the shade from the trees and the fresh air on the water’s edge.
If you’d like to find out more about the Rigole de la Montagne and the Canal du Midi supply system, we recommend visiting the Musée du Réservoir, on the shores of Saint-Ferréol lake.
Plenty of opportunities to see just how impressive this construction is!
THE SOURCE OF THE CANAL DU MIDI
The Montagne Noire is overflowing with water, so it’s hardly surprising that Pierre-Paul Riquet chose it to supply the Canal du Midi.
How does the Canal du Midi get its water supply? Where can we find sufficient water? And how can we divert the water to where it’s needed? These are the many problems Pierre-Paul Riquet faced at the start of this mammoth project. At first, he even considered using water from the Pyrenees!
The story goes that he was visiting his fiancée in Saint-Félix-Lauragais travelling from Béziers and he crossed the Montagne Noire on horseback. This is how he became aware of the sheer abundance of water in this region and decided to build an ingenious system of canals, a key component of which was the ‘Rigole de la Montagne’.
THE ALZEAU INLET
A natural boundary between the departments of Aude and Tarn, the Alzeau river benefits from plentiful rainfall throughout the year, making it the ideal waterway to provide a constant supply of water to the Canal du Midi.
This was a dilemma for Riquet, as no one really believed that the Alzeau had sufficient flow to supply enough water to the Canal du Midi. So, he dug a test trench at his own cost, and thankfully, after two years of testing, it proved to be successful!
The King finally gave Pierre-Paul Riquet his authorisation to dig out the ‘Rigole de la Montagne’ which still supplies the Canal du Midi today.
As you can see, it was decided to build the Alzeau inlet on the outskirts of the village of Lacombe, at an elevation of 680 metres in 1667, to tap and then divert the water towards the Rigole.
The inlet became the source for the Canal du Midi. This technical masterpiece is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the Canal du Midi.
When you come to visit this iconic place, you’ll also notice the Maison de Garde, classified as a Historic Monument in France. These ruins are a reminder of the many structures and employees required to keep the Canal du Midi and its supply systems in good working order.
WALKING ALONG THE RIGOLE DE LA MONTAGNE
The Rigole de la Montagne is completely flat, making it the ideal place for a stroll, suitable for everyone.
You can explore this easy, almost 25 km route on foot, on horseback or by bike!
There are several departure points, including the Alzeau inlet, Lampy Neuf dam, Conquet, Cammazes and the Cammazes tunnel.
In summer, you’ll enjoy this exploration alongside the ‘Rigole’ thanks to the shade from the trees and the fresh air on the water’s edge.
If you’d like to find out more about the Rigole de la Montagne and the Canal du Midi supply system, we recommend visiting the Musée du Réservoir, on the shores of Saint-Ferréol lake.
Plenty of opportunities to see just how impressive this construction is!
