Malpas canal tunnel
Túnel de canal de Malpas
- Date
- 1679-1681 · confidence high
- Place
- Colombiers, Hérault, France
- Credited to
- Pierre-Paul Riquet
- Field
- Movement
What it is
A tunnel about 165 m long dug through the Ensérune hill so the Canal du Midi could cross it without locks. It is one of the first navigable canal tunnels and let the route keep its level.
Riquet died in 1680 and the tunnel was finished in 1681; the whole canal opened that year. Some authors cite earlier canal tunnels.
What it led to
- canals with underground sections
- English canal tunnels such as Harecastle
- level-line waterways