Orb Aqueduct, Navigable aqueduct in Béziers, France.
The Orb Aqueduct crosses the Orb River with seven stone arches, spanning 240 meters and standing 12 meters tall. The structure contains a masonry trough sealed with concrete that carries the canal water above while allowing the natural river to flow beneath it.
Engineers completed the structure in 1858 to protect boats from a dangerous 750-meter section of the Orb River during their Canal du Midi journey. This solution enabled safe and continuous navigation on one of Europe's most important waterways.
The waterway carries boats of the Canal du Midi, linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic through a significant feat of engineering. Visitors can observe today how this structure serves as a central link in one of France's most important shipping routes.
Two parallel towpaths along the sides allow visitors to cross the structure and watch boats pass through the single-lane water channel. Access is straightforward and the paths offer viewpoints over the river below.
The structure is more than just a viaduct; it also protects boats from rapids and other hazards of the natural river course. Visitors experience a rare combination: an orderly canal for inland vessels flowing above while the wild Orb River maintains its own path beneath the arches.
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