Riquet Obelisk

The Riquet Obelisk is a stone monument rising about 20 meters at the highest point of the Canal du Midi. It stands near the former octagonal Bassin de Naurouze and marks the natural divide between the Massif Central and Pyrenees mountains.

The monument was built between 1825 and 1827 to honor Pierre-Paul Riquet, who designed and constructed the Canal du Midi in the 17th century. This commemoration came decades after the canal was completed and had become an important waterway in the region.

The inscription on the stone honors Riquet as Baron of Bonrepos and celebrates his role in creating the Two Seas Canal. Visitors can still see how the monument reflects the region's pride in this engineering achievement.

The obelisk is accessible via local routes in the Aude department of southern France and can be approached from different directions. The surrounding area offers various pathways, making it easy for visitors to reach and explore the site.

The site marks the exact watershed point where water divides to flow either toward the Mediterranean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean through the canal system. Few visitors realize the geographic significance of standing at this natural divide when they see the monument.

Location: Montferrand

GPS coordinates: 43.34938,1.85357

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:22