top of page

Hydraulic Engineering at Les Ouvrages du Libron

How 19th Century engineers controlled a flooding river

Les Ouvrages du Libron are one of the most unique hydraulic structures that I have seen - designed to deal with a flashy-river that refuses to behave.

​

When I went to the Ouvrage du Libron to look around and find out about it, I was fascinated by how engineers from over 150 years ago managed to build a system to allow canal traffic all year with minimal problems. So two questions appeared in my head, how did they do it? And why? It was intriguing how the problems occurred and previous fixes they tried. 

​

Pierre Paul Riquet's solution is unique structure constructed only due to the unusual conditions the river Libron and the Canal du Midi presented. 

​

​

​

                                                                                          Quiz

​

Question 1: What is the Ouvrage du Libron built for?

​

​

​

 A)   To supply
   the area with

      fresh, clean

drinking water.

​

Question 2: When was the Ouvrage du Libron built?

​

B) To generate 
  Hydroelectric 
  power for the 
  area.

C) To mix the 
     river Libron
     and the Canal
     du Midi

Hungry for more stories?

bottom of page