Malpas Tunnel

Malpas Tunnel is an underground passage running 173 meters through a limestone hill to carry the Canal du Midi. The structure features 30 supporting arches and spans 6 meters wide by 8.5 meters tall.

Built between 1679 and 1680 by engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet, it was the first canal tunnel ever constructed. The completion changed how people could move waterways across difficult terrain.

The tunnel takes its name from the difficulty of its construction and is viewed by visitors as a symbol of human determination. Today visitors can see where engineers of the 17th century routed waterways through a rocky hill.

The tunnel entrance is accessible on foot or by bicycle along the canal path, which offers clear views of the structure. Visitors can walk along the waterway and observe the multiple levels built into the hillside.

Below the canal tunnel lies a 19th-century railway tunnel that was added by later engineers seeking to cross the same hill. These stacked passages show how engineering solutions evolved across different periods.

Location: Nissan-lez-Enserune

Official opening: 1680

Length: 173 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Address: Le Malpas, 34440 Nissan-lez-Enserune, France

Website: https://canal-du-midi.com/decouvrir/fil-eau/carcassonne-a-beziers/colombier-malpas-montady-enserune

GPS coordinates: 43.30722,3.12667

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:45