Created under King Louis XIV, the ‘Canal du Midi’ that links the Mediterranean sea to the ocean (‘Canal Royal’ before the French revolution), is close to 150 miles long (240 km) and runs from Toulouse to the Thau pond close to Montpellier where it flows into the sea. It runs South of the city of Beziers over the Orb thanks to the ‘Pont-Canal’, a 787 feet (240 m) long bridge. Before getting there, the Canal du Midi goes through the engineering and aesthetics masterpiece that is the 9 Locks of Fonseranes, declared historical monument in 1996.