Le Somail

Somail is a place in France, located in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region and politically belongs to the municipalities Ginestas, Saint- Nazaire d'Aude and Sallèles- d'Aude.

Location

The village is located about 15 kilometers northwest of Narbonne, on the highway D607, near the mouth of the river Cesse in the Aude and is crossed by the Canal du Midi. The houses to the south of both the arched canal bridge (see figure) leading roads belong politically to Saint- Nazaire d'Aude, the northern to Ginestas, and the northernmost house on the eastern bank of the canal is one of Sallèles- d'Aude.

History

During the construction of the Canal du Midi by Pierre -Paul Riquet in the 17th century, one of the section - site management was in Somail. Thereafter Somail stage stop for the mail ships and served for a century until the construction of the Canal de Jonction as a channel port for Narbonne.

Some buildings still existing in Somail date from this time:

• Arched Stone Bridge
• Chapel
• Inn
• Warehouses
• Cold store

Culture and sights

• The old buildings of Somail are registered as a monument historique.
• In 1980, in one of the old buildings a used bookstore (fr: Librairie ancienne ) set that offers today under the name Le Trouve Tout du Livre more than 50,000 books across all subject areas (see links).

Economic Importance

The freight and passenger transport on the Canal du Midi no longer has any meaning. However, has become by the arisen Water tourism with hotel boats, excursion, sports and houseboats the place Somail an attractive Inspection location.