- The Canal de la Robine is a seven mile canal that connects the River Aude to the Mediterranean in southern France.
- It partly follows the route of the old Roman Canal through the centre of Narbonne to Port La Nouvelle.
History
- The Romans established Narbonne in 118 BCE.
- The River Aude (Atax) divides near Salelles, with one branch going through Narbonne and the other into the Etang close to Vendres. The Romans dammed the Aude at Salelles, and canalised the Aude through Narbonne to the Etang de Bages-Sigean. They named the canal the Robine.
- The canal is crossed by a Roman Bridge, the ‘Pont des Marchants’, carrying the Via Domitia. The Roman bridge is under the shops built over it, and can best be seen from the towpath below.
- In 1320 a major flood destroyed the dam and the canal through Narbonne became unnavigable.
- In 1686, Vauban reconnected Narbonne with the Aude and the Canal du Midi which had been completed in 1681.
Photo and map: Canal de la Robine, Narbonne