Although many have been cut down to limit the spread of the deadly canker stain, a minute blue fungus, the characteristic landscape remains in many sections, and the newly-planted trees will gradually recreate the majestic presence of their predecessors.
These dominate the more pastoral landscape after the canal leaves the Mediterranean climate west of Carcassonne. The Midi has just cause to be popular. During the season hundreds of hire boats cruise to and fro, not always completely sure of what they are doing, particularly in the locks tricky enough for more experienced boaters.
These are subject to a perpetual overflow waterfall noisily cascading over the upper gates. It pays to be somewhat on guard when sharing a lock with hire boats. The quantity of hirers naturally increases during the grandes vacances in July and August. Thefts from this tempting array of targets are not unusual, so boats should always be locked up! A few hours after leaving Castelnaudary and its expansive basin, the summit level is reached.
From Toulouse the canal rises through the rich cereal-growing plain of the Lauragais to a short summit level at the Col de Naurouze, at an altitude of m. Tax collector Pierre Paul Riquet saw the value of the canal crossing the watershed, connecting Toulouse to the Mediterranean. The concession was given to Riquet, and works began in The canal was ceremonially opened in October , 10 months after Riquet died, ruined after investing his entire fortune in the works.
Vauban made a number of improvements in the s, but was understandably impressed by the boldness of the project completed by Riquet and his engineers. Locks — Discounting the two locks down to the river Garonne in Toulouse obliterated by a ring road and one stop lock which is normally open, there were formerly 64 locks on the canal, 16 falling towards the Garonne and 48 falling towards the Mediterranean. With 19 double staircases, four triple, one quadruple and one sextuple, the number of separate chambers to be negotiated was in fact 99 24 from Toulouse to the summit and 75 down to the Mediterranean.
