Canal du Midi Route Cuts Through Trèbes School Grounds

On Friday, June 12, CM students from the Floralies and Aiguille schools took part in an educational day focused on the Canal du Midi, combining history, science and heritage. The event was organized by the municipal library, the Maison des mots and the Acampo association, with the aim of introducing children to one of the major symbols of Occitan heritage in a fun and interactive way.

The morning session was held at Floralies and the afternoon session at Aiguille. André Authier, president of the Acteur canal du Midi association, led the presentation entitled “Le chemin qui marche ! Comment ça marche ?” He guided the pupils through five simple questions: who built the canal, why it was built, what it is used for, how it works and how it was constructed. Through this approach, the children discovered the work of Pierre-Paul Riquet and the remarkable engineering effort that made it possible to connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The activity stood out for its hands-on format. After an illustrated talk supported by photographs, diagrams and educational documents, the pupils took part in practical workshops in the schoolyards. Using models created by Acampo, they were able to handle water directly and observe the physical principles that govern the canal’s operation. Concepts such as gravity, natural slope, watersheds, water sharing and the functioning of locks were explained in an accessible and concrete way.

The demonstrations also covered canal bridges, spillways and other civil engineering structures, prompting curiosity and many questions from the children. By watching water circulate through the models and taking part in the experiments themselves, the students gained a better understanding of how 17th-century engineers overcame an exceptional technical challenge. The experience offered a lively way to approach science while giving meaning to classroom learning.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to pass on local heritage to younger generations. On April 14, students from the Patrimoine class at Gaston-Bonheur middle school also benefited from this educational approach centered on the Canal du Midi. After several weeks of work, they are due to present the model they created on Sunday, June 14, on the banks of the canal, where they will in turn become ambassadors for this exceptional heritage site before the public.