Prise d'Alzeau, Water intake system in Arfons, France
The Prise d'Alzeau is a water intake in the Montagne Noire range that channels mountain streams through networks of passages toward the Canal du Midi. The system relies on natural sources at higher elevations to maintain steady water delivery to the historic waterway.
Pierre-Paul Riquet designed this intake in the 1600s to supply the highest sections of the Canal du Midi with water from mountain sources. The work was a key component of the larger effort to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean.
The water intake serves as a tangible reminder of how people engineered solutions to move water across long distances for a major waterway. Visitors can experience the connection between mountain streams and human ambition reflected in the site's practical design.
The site is accessible by foot through marked trails starting from nearby villages and mountain paths in the area. The terrain is hilly and can be wet, so sturdy footwear and time for exploration of the surrounding trails are recommended.
A stone marker from 1837, ordered by the Duke of Caraman, sits at the location to record the importance of this water system. It stands as a tangible reminder of how seriously the region valued the engineering achievement.
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