Malpas Tunnel Canal Du Midi

PK (Point Kilométrique): 199.000

Year of Construction: Winter of 1679-1680

Bike path side: change sides here

Paul Riquet did not want to cross the Aude River with his new canal.  It seemed to difficult and costly to do so.  Instead he chose to continue towards Beziers.  The problem was that there was a hill in the way.  Paul Riquet's enemies informed the king of this problematic hill in the hopes that he would halt the work on the canal permanently.  Paul Riquet was aware of this plan by his enemies, so he worked day and night to make the tunnel as quickly as possible.  After only 8 days of digging the hill was opened up.  Just in time!  Because the king had sent word down to stop the work on the canal.  But when that letter arrived, the tunnel was already finished.  Needless to say, work on the canal continued after that.  The tunnel took a few more months to finish, but the proof of concept had been delivered.

This was the first canal tunnel in the world.  It is about 170 meters long by 8 meters wide by 8 meters high.

You cannot take your bike through the tunnel.  Instead you go over the top of it.  This is also the place where you change sides with your bike, from one bank to the other bank.

On the top of the hill, north of the Canal Du Midi, is the Oppidum d'Ensérune.  It is one of the most important Gallic villages in the South of France.  It also has a museum.  Website.  The Romans also lived in this hilltop village.  The old Roman Road from Beziers to Narbonne ran right over the top of the Malpas Tunnel.  The only trace that remains today is a mile marker stone close to Colombiers.

North-east of the Malpas Tunnel is the Etang de Montady.  This is an ancient shallow lake that got drained in the 1200's.  Its drainage channel runs deep below the Malpas Tunnel and is still in operation.

More recently, a railway tunnel was constructed underneath the Malpas Tunnel as well.  The trains from Beziers to Narbonne pass through here.

There is a tourist office here as well.  It has a scale model of the tunnel that is interesting to see.  Of course, it also has toilets.

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