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Origin and history

The Coudières roadway, also called Riquet's test pipe, is an experimental work built in the second half of the seventeenth century in Arfons, Tarn. Its sole objective was to prove that the Rivière Rougeanne could provide sufficient flow to power the Canal du Midi. This dry stone structure, of curved shape, tested the technical feasibility before the construction of the final water intake of Alzeau, located in the same municipality. Upon completion of the canal (1667-1682), the roadway was partially destroyed, as it was replaced by permanent infrastructure.

The road of Coudières is part of the colossal project of the Canal du Midi, designed by the engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet under the reign of Louis XIV and supervised by Colbert. This canal, originally called the Canal de Communication des Deux Mers or Canal du Languedoc, was designed to connect the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. The Arfons test drain, although temporary, played a key role in the validation of hydraulic choices. Today, its remains, classified as a historical monument in 1998 and integrated into the UNESCO World Heritage Site via the Canal du Midi, are in poor condition and largely invisible.

The site has been protected since 1998 by an inscription order in the title of historical monuments, covering the remains of the road of Coudières on the cadastre of the commune (section D known as Ramondens). Despite its historical importance, its present state is described as deplorable, with an approximate location (precision estimated at 6/10). The roadway illustrates the empirical methods used by Riquet to overcome the technical challenges of the time, including the management of water resources in the Black Mountain.

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