Percée des Cammazes, Historic tunnel of Canal du Midi in Les Cammazes, France
Percée des Cammazes is a vaulted water tunnel running beneath the Canal du Midi in the French Pyrenees. The passage channels water from the Black Mountain spring to the Saint-Ferréol reservoir and supports water supply for the entire canal system.
The tunnel was excavated starting in 1686 under Vauban's direction after Pierre-Paul Riquet's death forced completion of the canal project. Workers broke through the rock over four years to create this vital connection.
The tunnel is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Canal du Midi and shows how 17th-century engineers moved water through mountains. It represents French engineering craftsmanship from that era.
You can see the structures from outside, but the interior is not freely accessible since it remains active for the canal's water supply. Visitors can photograph the stone entrance facades beside the D629 road and view the historical construction from above.
The two entrances have decorated stone facades with relief panels, but one depicting King Louis XIV disappeared during the French Revolution. This loss reveals how political upheaval can reshape even monuments.
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