History

Construction

The built-in of the canal du Midi

Requiring an incredible harnessing of manpower and expertise, creating the great variety of architectural works found along it , this canal was a +herculean task!

Workers rights
Work conditions

The built-in of the canal lateral to the Garonne

Before opening to navigation the Canal Royal du Languedoc, it seems a necessity to have it reach the Atlantic.

Birth of the canal lateral to the Garonne
The works

Construction of the canal du Midi : Staff make up

Riquet, an organised, dynamic and daring man enlists thousand of men to build the century's greatest construction venture.

During the 14 years of its built, never less than 1000 workers were employed permanently. About 10 000 manuel labourers, including women, worked for the secund venture, Trebes to the étang de Thau.

Ahead of is time, Riquet organised his work force by team of workmen generally made out of 200 men, divided into groups of forty, each with a foreman and five inspectors in charge.

Men and women labourers of our region were the builders of the canal. Men were the diggers and women were the soil carriers using hods or stretchers.

Construction of the canal du Midi : Building work

Outstanding for the time!. Salary were better than any where else, the working age limit fixed from 20 to 50 years old. Days off due to rain, bank holidays, Sunday and sickness leaves were all paid. they were lodged for two deniers a day.

In short, Pierre-Paul Riquet had showned himself to be in the vanguard of social issues.
They will become laws for every workers in France, only in the XX century. Althrough the canal is a titanic construction venture, his social politic made the canal's built possible in a short time . Regarding the technical skill of the time, the canal's construction is amazing!

In the other hand, Pierre Paul Riquet was unbending for the carters and carriages, the masters bricklayers and the farriery. The owners of sawmills were obliged to work for him without disputing wages or be fined 50 livres if they refused to work.

Birth of the canal lateral a la Garonne : Genesis

Before the completion of the Royal Languedoc Canal 's works, it seemed obvious that it had to go all the way to Moissac.
In 1686, Vauban judge the necessity of the extension all the way up to La Réole.It wasn't until 1878 that someone ordered the study of this construction.
Despite completion in 1830 it is only in 1832 that the state bestowed an everlasting franchise to Sir Doin, trusting him the charge of building and up keeping the canal lateral to the Garonne.
Sir Doin didn't honour his pledge and the state withdrew him his rights.
July 9th,1835 the state gave him back the responsibility's with new delays fixed. Before the works started Sir doin died.
In 1838 a third amendment grants F.F.100 000 to his heirs but the state end up buying it back for FF 150 000.

Built-in of the canal lateral to the Garonne : The works

In 1832 the law passed for the construction of the canal lateral to the Garonne river The water supply was to be from the Garonne river using the Saint-Pierre canal.

But the original Sir Doin's project doesn't include any water taken from the Garonne.

In 1838, construction started under equipment ministry Inspector Baude, with a down payment of FF40 millions.

In order for the opponents to agree on all the issues many meetings and conferences were held.
Here few decisions that were listed:

Article 4: All the Canal's building & up keeping, the lock keeper's house and stores are under state care.

Article 6: The Saint Pierre's pool is maintain and built by the state.

Article 11: A siphon aqueduct under the Canal du Midi has to be built by the Canal du Midi company financed by the state.

Article 14: The company has to dig a port called Port de l'Embouchure.In order to give boats a 2.40 meters mooring the company has to lowe rthe thresholds buildings. A lock or guarding door has to be built at the Canal's entrance.