LE RESERVOIR, ESPACE DECOUVERTE DU CANAL DU MIDI

At the foot of the dyke of the water-supply lake of the Canal du Midi, the interpretation centre is dedicated to the discovery of this exceptional UNESCO-listed structure. Inside, you'll discover the titanic project of its designer, Pierre Paul Riquet.

Linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean... a dream that has been alive since Antiquity. Pierre-Paul Riquet made it happen in the 17th century! Along with the Château de Versailles, the Canal du Midi is the most important achievement of the reign of Louis XIV. The dam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the keystone of the canal's water supply system. At the foot of the dam is LE RÉSERVOIR, a discovery area for the Canal du Midi. A life-size presentation of the history of the canal, its engineering structures and its ingenious supply system.

EXHIBITION
The Saint-Ferréol dam was first filled with water in 1673. At 32 metres high, it is now France's oldest large dam in operation. To mark this anniversary, LE RESERVOIR, the Canal du Midi's discovery centre, is looking back at the history of these giants of wood, stone, earth and concrete that now dot our landscapes. The exhibition explores the role and place of these structures in our regions, and our relationship with water at a time when 'blue gold' is more precious than ever.

TAP GALLERY
The Reservoir regularly organises tours of the Tap Gallery. This tour takes you deep into the bowels of the Saint-Ferréol reservoir, through a 70-metre-long vault, complete with light and sound effects. At the very end of the tunnel are 3 19th-century taps. Online ticket sales on the Réservoir website.

For information about group tours, visit mediation@lereservoir-canaldumidi.fr.

Our museum has been awarded the "Valeurs Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Languedoc" label.