Canal de la Robine, Historic canal in Narbonne, France

The Canal de la Robine is a 32-kilometre waterway linking the Aude at Moussoulens to the Mediterranean at Port-la-Nouvelle, passing through Narbonne. Its straight channel has pale stone or concrete stepped banks on one side and a low stone edge with a dirt path on the other; six locks handle a drop of 8.3 metres. Near Narbonne it runs under the Pont des Marchands, and white motorboats moor along the stone embankment below a balustraded terrace.

The waterway was created in the late 1600s to connect Narbonne with the Aude River for commerce and transport. This engineering work was part of France's broader effort to build interconnected water routes across the country.

The name comes from the Occitan robina, meaning canal, so "Canal de la Robine" is a tautology. The waterway is fed by the Aude at Moussoulens, and its towpath is now a greenway from central Narbonne to Port-la-Nouvelle. Today it is used mainly by pleasure boats and houseboats.

You can explore this waterway on foot along the shaded paths, by bicycle, or by renting a small boat if you prefer being on the water. The area is accessible year-round, though the warmer months offer more comfortable conditions for spending time along the banks.

The Pont des Marchands is one of the few inhabited bridges in France, with houses built directly on its structure. Its origins are Roman, and it carries the canal through the heart of Narbonne. The name comes from the merchants who once traded on and around the bridge.