An UNESCO world heritage site since 1996.
Built in the late 17thc the canal predates the British canal building by 100 years, and was an inspiration for the Duke of Bridgwater to build his first canal in Lancashire.
It links Toulouse to the Mediterranean at Sete. From Toulouse to the north west the Garonne river and Gironde estuary link to Bordeaux and the Atlantic Thus the canal provides a much shorter and safer route between the two seas Thus it is built on a larger scale to accommodate the ocean going vessels of that time.
Nowadays it is given over to tourism with many pleasure boats meandering through the countryside.
One particular sight is the neuf ecluses (nine locks) at Beziers which is currently being developed as a major tourist attraction to be opened in the summer of 2017.