Seuil de Naurouze, Water divide and historical site in Montferrand, France
The Seuil de Naurouze is a water divide point in Montferrand where the canal reaches its highest elevation. At this location, water naturally separates, with two lock systems directing flow in different directions.
Pierre-Paul Riquet chose this spot in the 17th century as the crucial hub for his ambitious canal project. The site with its distinctive basin was later honored with a monument that preserves the importance of this two-sea connection.
The monument dedicated to Riquet has defined this place since the 19th century and honors the canal's creator. You can see carved reliefs showing mythological figures that represent the connection between the two seas.
The location sits on an elevated area reachable by paths and trails that run through the surrounding landscape. Visitors can easily view and explore the locks and monument from the walking paths nearby.
Few visitors realize this basin can be seen as one of the oldest still-functioning examples of 17th-century hydraulic engineering. The fact that water naturally splits here into two directions without artificial force shows the genius of Riquet's natural and technical planning.
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