The Canal du Midi

One of the interesting pieces of history in this area of France is the story of the Canal du Midi.  It was originally conceptualized and designed in the 1600s by a gentleman (forget his name at the moment) who built it at his own expense--and he died 6 months before it opened!  But he had the right idea--an avenue, by water, for France to get goods from the Atlantic side to the Mediterranean side--all without bothering Spain, its neighbor to the south.  Since the French and the Spanish have a history of fighting A LOT through the Middle Ages and beyond, it was dangerous to transport French goods around the Iberian peninsula and through the Strait of Gibralter--pirates and all that.  So, someone came up with the bright idea of building a canal system from the Mediterranean to the city of Toulouse, whence the river system would lead to the Atlantic Ocean.  This greatly enhanced French commerce, and the south of France became wealthy because of its trade opportunities.  Marseille made its reputation as a port city because of its ability to gather goods, wine, olives, etc. from the western agricultural regions of France and transport these goods to other Mediterranean ports.  The problem was the altitude--the southwest of France, which is cut through by the Canal du Midi, is also on the plateau which begins  the Pyrenees, and there needed to be 121 lock-systems to get goods from the Mediterranean to Toulouse (or vice versa).  This took a lot of building, and after the railroads came, people abandoned the Canal as a major route for transporting goods.  Now, however, it's a lovely trip down the Canal by boat, and lots of people rent boats to go down a section of the Canal (you can even take a 'cruise' down the Canal if you like).  And the Canal goes right through the town of Carcassonne, so it's possible to see it up close, and follow it right out of town!  Which I did, a couple of days ago.  And here's what it looks like in the countryside!  Tres bonne!