COLLOQUE INTERNATIONAL CONSACRÉ AUX CANAUX

This conference, entitled ‘Artificial waterways: governance, uses and the environment of canals from the past to the future’, will be organised around the following four themes: tracing the history of canals; promoting canals; managing a canal listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and integrating canals into their surroundings. It will welcome speakers from numerous countries, including Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada and China. Several UNESCO-recognised sites will serve as points of comparison with the Canal du Midi, including the Augsburg water management system, the Rideau Canal in Canada, the Pontcysyllte Canal in Wales, the Canal du Centre in Belgium and the Grand Canal in China. This diversity of perspectives across the globe and through time will enrich the discussion on governance models, heritage conservation and the adaptation of water infrastructure to meet the challenges of the future. In addition, a day-long event to broaden the discussion and explore some of the Canal du Midi’s most iconic sites is being organised on Thursday 26 November in Castelnaudary and the surrounding area.

This conference is organised by the University of Toulouse – Jean-Jaurès and Voies navigables de France (VNF) in collaboration with the members of the Entente pour le canal du Midi.