Canal du Rhône à Sète

Marina in Beaucaire

The Canal du Rhône à Sète ( German Rhône- Sète Canal) is a ship canal in southern France in the Languedoc- Roussillon region.

Development and technical infrastructure

It runs between Beaucaire on the Rhône and Sète, where it flows into the Thau 98 kilometers. Beyond the Thau begins the Canal du Midi. In Saint- Gilles he has connection to the Canal de Saint- Gilles, who connects with the right Rhône- arm ( " Petit Rhône " ) and allows the ships to the main branch of the Rhône ( Grand Rhône) in Port-Saint -Louis -du -Rhône to reach the Mediterranean Sea. Originally was the only channel of Sete to Aigues Mortes, and was then called Canal des Étangs (German lakes - channel).

Coordinates

• Source of the canal: 43 ° 48 ' 18 "N, 4 ° 38' 47" O43.8054.6463888888889Koordinaten: 43 ° 48 ' 18 "N, 4 ° 38' 47" O
• Endpoint of the channel: 43 ° 25 ' 24 "N, 3 ° 42' 12" O43.4233333333333.7033333333333

By Crossed departments

• Hérault
• Gard

Places on the canal

• Beaucaire
• Saint- Gilles
• Aigues -Mortes
• La Grande -Motte
• Carnon
• Palavas- les- Flots
• Frontignan
• Sète

History

The first plans, to dry up some of the Camargue, go to Henri IV back, the first idea of ​​a canal from Aigues -Mortes to Saint -Gilles is from the year 1645 (for comparison, a project of the Canal des Deux Mers, the Canal later du Midi, was discussed already in 1618 by the Assemblée des États du Languedoc, but declined). The construction of this 35 km long canal by partially lying at sea level terrain the États du Languedoc only began in 1780 (nearly 100 years after the opening of the Canal du Midi ). We try to prevent the ingress of salt water from the canal into the lateral area by paved roads on both sides of the channel. With the French Revolution, however, were the work - and thus the lateral ways - interrupted. In order to avoid greater damage, was placed under Napoléon, complete the channel. A contract with the Compagnie Perrochel foresaw therefore, continue building the canal to Beaucaire with different communication channels with a total length of 77.1 km on the basis of a concession for 80 years and operate. Here, the the state-owned land along the canal should permanently pass into the ownership of the company. 1806 were the first ships to sail through the canal, but the final completion took several years to Reception Définitive ( final acceptance at the end of the warranty period ) on 29 September 1828th At the time, the channel salt water to Saint- Gilles and fresh water from there to Beaucaire. The employees of the Canal Company Paulin Talabot prompted a transformation of the entire channel in a fresh water channel by a protective and overflow lock to protect against salt water and in Beaucaire was built from the Rhône a lock to supply the entire canal with water in Aigues- Mortes. This work was completed in 1834.

Tourist importance

The Canal du Rhône à Sète is a scenic canal, which usually crosses the Camargue in a straight line. As it has throughout its length, only a single lock, he is easy to deal with for the boats and very popular for tourist houseboat trips. On its shores wild horses, wild bulls, flamingos and many bird species can be observed.