The Canal du Midi Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Canal du Midi links Toulouse with the Mediterranean Sea. A marriage of art and technique, this waterway was designed and built by Pierre-Paul Riquet.
It is considered as one of the major works of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV.
Le Somail, was the rest stop on the third evening for voyages coming from Toulouse.
The port was a high place of exchange and trading life, in a pleasant setting where travellers could pray in the chapel, eat and sleep at the inn.
Today, the mariners have made way for vacation cruise passengers who can enjoy basking in the sun on all sorts of splendid barges, even floating caravans.