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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Gardouch Lock is a single-chamber lock located in the Haute-Garonne department of the Canal du Midi, Occitanie region. Built around 1670 (although it dates from the 18th century), it marks a key point on the river route 38.5 km from Toulouse, at an altitude of 173 metres. It is framed by the locks of Renneville (east) and Laval (west), and plays a logistical role for navigation between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Its bridge, formerly adorned with Languedoc weapons (destroyed during the Revolution), and its typical 19th century lock house testify to its architectural evolution.

The whole — lock, canal bridge and lock house — was listed as a Historic Monument in 1998, recognizing its heritage value. The site also includes a water stop and a 19th century port lined with houses, reflecting the economic activity associated with the canal. The Gardouch Canal Bridge, mentioned in the sources as a remarkable structure, highlights the ingenuity of Pierre-Paul Riquet's hydraulic works, although its name is not explicitly cited for this site.

The protected elements cover the lock itself, the bridge (whose armored key was staked in 1789) and the lock house, dated the first half of the 19th century. These components illustrate the successive adaptations of the channel, between practical utility and political symbols. The approximate location (2 Quai Riquet) and its Insee code (31210) confirm its anchoring in the territory of the Haute-Garonne, between Toulouse and the Mediterranean.

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