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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Gailhousty is a major hydraulic structure in the Canal du Midi, located in Sallèles-d'Aude in the Aude region of Occitanie. Built in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century, it is one of the installations designed to regulate the floods of the Aude, whose silt waters threatened to envelop the canal. The building, imposing by its dimensions, consists of 15 valves designed to capture and detour flood waters to the Capestang pond, thus avoiding obstruction of the canal. Its monumental stone architecture reflects the strategic importance of this work in the hydraulic system of the Canal du Midi.

The épancier is sponsored by Bishop Arthur Richard Dillon, archbishop of Narbonne and primate de la Gaule Narbonnaise, who also served as president-born of the states of Languedoc. The calculations to dimension the structure were based on the 1772 flood, one of the strongest in the 18th century, demonstrating the need for a robust system to protect the canal. The building, which initially housed the premises of the administration and then those of the Navigable Ways of France (VNF), is characterized by an orderly elevation, with rectangular bays and carved frontons.

The Gailhousty site also includes a refit basin, integrated during the modernisation of the canal to put it in the Frayssinet template. This basin, of oval shape downstream and rectangular upstream, allowed either the passage of the vessels or their dry docking according to the water level. A bridge spanning the canal connects the spanner building, facilitating access and valve management. The ensemble, classified as a Historic Monument in 1996, is a testament to the ingenuity of the hydraulic installations of the Canal du Midi, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Gailhousty is part of the wider history of the Canal du Midi, designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet in the 17th century to connect the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. This canal, originally called "Royal Canal de Languedoc", revolutionized river transport in France and remains a masterpiece of engineering. The improvements made by Vauban in the 18th century, including the strengthening of water supply systems, made it possible to maintain its functioning. Today, the canal is mainly dedicated to river tourism, while maintaining its historical role in the management of the region's water resources.

The spanner building, with its four piers and lock remains, is a remarkable example of 18th-century hydraulic architecture. The materials used, quality size stones, and the presence of a protruding cord separating the lower part of the building, underline its functional and aesthetic importance. The weapons of Monsignor Dillon, carved on the pediment, recall the role of the states of Languedoc in managing and financing the infrastructure of the canal. This book, still in place, illustrates the durability of the technical solutions implemented to preserve the canal of natural hazards.

Finally, the Gailhousty spreader is a testimony of the administrative and technical organization of the Canal du Midi. The premises it housed were used for both flood management and channel maintenance, reflecting the importance of rigorous maintenance for airworthiness. Today, this book, classified and protected, continues to play a role in preserving the canal's hydraulic heritage, while attracting visitors' attention for its architecture and history.

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