Midi-Pyrénées invites you to the most beautiful of adventures: that of knowledge, of creativity and imagination. To experience this, travel 60 km south west of Toulouse to discover the abbey-school of Sorèze and the Saint-Ferréol lake, near Revel. Here man has shown his genius, starting with Pierre-Paul Riquet, the inventor of the Canal du Midi.
The first stop is at Sorèze, in the south of the Tarn. At the foot of the forested massif of the Black Mountain, this charming village grew around its Benedictine monastery. Under Louis XVI, this monastery became the Royal Military School. In the 19th century, Sorèze asserted itself as one of the great knowledge centres in France, thanks to brave educators like Father Lacordaire. Literature, mathematics and science were taught, as well as architecture, singing and theatre.
Visit the Sorèze abbey-school and you will be able to imagine the daily life of this very special place, renowned for its innovative education that attracted students from around the world. A museographic journey will take you from the Cour des Rouges to the Salle des Illustres, from the classrooms to the student dormitories, and to Centenary Park that highlights the monumental architecture of the prestigious abbey-school.
The Abbey School also houses the Museum and Dom Robert Tapestry of the twentieth century , opened in 2015: you will discover over 1500 m2 work of Dom Robert ( 1907-1997 ) , a monk at the nearby Abbey of En Calcat , and other masters of contemporary tapestry like Jean Lurcat . The exceptional collections, regularly updated , are enhanced by an elegant and entertaining stage design that makes them accessible to everyone.
Are you ready to go to Revel? A few kilometres from Sorèze, this charming walled city in the Haute-Garonne is host every Saturday to one of France’s most beautiful markets. In the central square is the house where Pierre-Paul Riquet (1609-1680), inventor of the Canal du Midi, lived.
Here you are very near to the origins of the Canal du Midi. This exceptional structure links Toulouse and Sète along the Mediterranean shore. In 1996, it was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site as an example of human creative genius.
The Saint-Ferréol lake comes into view some 6 km from Revel. Here you are well and truly at the sources of the Canal du Midi.
The Saint-Ferréol lake is an idyllic spot, perfect for bathing and just lounging. Created in the 17th century, this 67-hectare ornamental lake is at the heart of the exhilarating venture of the construction of the Canal du Midi. It is the masterpiece of its water supply mechanism: a complex, surprising system put into operation by Pierre-Paul Riquet.
To find out all about this structure, unique in the world, a visit to the Museum and Gardens of the Canal du Midi is a must. Opened in 2008 the museum situated at the foot of the lake wall is organised into 6 thematic rooms. It is a pleasure to explore them, to see them bring to life through models, audiovisual equipment, original documents etc., the epic creation of the Canal du Midi and also the singular personality of its founder. Built in the shade, besides waterfalls and the water shower of an opulent, romantic 19th century park, the museum and the Saint-Ferréol lake form a landscape and heritage of a remarkable quality. A must see!
Keys to discovery
> In summer, the Sorèze abbey-school offers many activities such as painting, decorating and theatre workshops. Not to be missed in July: the “Musiques des Lumières” (Music of the Lights) festival, including works for choirs, ancient or symphonic music and opera, where renowned artists rub shoulders with young performers.
> Add to your discovery of Sorèze by staying in the high-quality hotel complex in the heart of the abbey-school. You could go for the three-star Logis des Pères with its 52 rooms, or the two-star Pavillon des Hôtes and its 20 rooms. You may dine at the Collets Rouges restaurant in the abbey’s old refectory.
> The Saint-Ferréol basin, a masterpiece of the Canal du Midi supply network, was for centuries the world’s largest dam. It is a real mountain beach, and today is a haven of tranquillity, nature and history.
> Even though life expectancy at the time was no more than forty years, Pierre-Paul Riquet, already over fifty seven years of age, set out to undertake a colossal structure that would link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. This incredible epic is told to you at the Museum and Gardens of the Canal du Midi.
> At the foot of the Museum and Gardens of the Canal du Midi, the Saint-Ferréol Park, developed in the 19th century will steal your heart with the romanticism of its water shower and its waterfalls. It is a cool place in summer, as well as the gateway to the valve tunnel that will lead you to the heart of the dam.
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