Canal Midi and Garonne

The Canal Midi is one of the most important things found in Toulouse. It is a canal that was built during the reign of Louis XIV (14th) by a genius who lived right outside of Toulouse. He had created the plans to build the canal to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, so from Bordeaux through Toulouse all the way to the Mediterranean. This was important because it was a shortcut for trade instead of having to go around Spain and Portugal. The canal is still used today for boats more for recreation and tourism. Also it is very popular to bike from one end of the canal to the other. The canal runs through the city, and is lined with 

paths for bikers and walkers which is the perfect atmosphere. It is lined with the most beautiful trees and is a sight to see. It also connect with the Garonne River which is one of the biggest and most known rivers in France and it is a key aspect in Toulouse. Here you can find the famous bridge Pointe Neuf which is a symbol of Toulouse. I got the chance to take a boat tour of the Garonne and the Canal Midi on a beautiful fall day with my host family and the German student that stayed with us for two weeks. It was so beautiful and something the one has to do when coming to Toulouse. You see the city differently and it was so interesting. It was even cooler because about a week or two before I had gone to the castle of the founder of the canal and had walked the canal. Afterwards we journeyed into the city and went to an English tea room which was amazing. I had the best scone of my life, ever! It was a perfect way to end a day on the two most important water ways in the Southwest of France.