Project started 6/98 and 7/99

Budget 110 000 + 38 000 euros

References - "fiches" action 5/41

Partner responsible : Conseil Régional Midi-Pyrénées

a) Bank stabilisation
For certain old canals in a state of disrepair (water leakage, damaged banks, towpath impracticable, silting, etc) the conventional solution adopted by engineers as long as their main (or supposed) function was transport, was the installation of unattractive sheet piling. The project involves testing more natural and "softer" solutions, respecting the heritage and the environment. The experiment relates to 4 sites with different characteristics, and will enable the partners to analyse the most suitable and economic methods. The project also has a "didactic" component, with display panels put up at each site to explain the tested techniques to visitors.

b) Raising public awareness
By virtue of their tourist function related to their heritage and environmental value, canals are subject to ever-increasing usage, especially in urban and semi-urban areas, by people looking for calm, relaxing and aesthetic places. Thus canals and their adjacent public estate are often under threat through the density of visitors, a phenomenon worsened by the shortage of facilities for these new functions, and by the disrespectful, uncivil behaviour of a minority of users. Altogether, these circumstances make the canals particularly vulnerable as public spaces. The project involves researching methods for maintaining "clean canals" by a publicity campaign aimed at the riparian populations, providing them with appropriate information.

Montech, junction with the branch to Montauban (on the left), is one of the sites for Midi-Pyrenees' experimental bank stabilisation works

Project started 10/00

Budget 100 000 euros

References - "fiche" action 70

Responsible partner : Conseil Régional Midi-Pyrénées

The conference is planned over three days, from 4th to 6th October 2000. The draft programme will be announced in the VEV Newsletter in May. In addition to the specific lessons to be drawn from the 70 projects carried out in the context of the VEV project, the objective of the leading partner is to open up the event to the other Terra projects, particularly those in the Iberian peninsula (perhaps working towards a community of the inland waterways of Southern Europe). The delegates will be able to compare the tools for management and development of inland waterways, under the various headings covered by the research projects: cultural, environmental, economic, etc...

Project started 9/99

Budget 83 000 euros

References - "fiche" action 37

Responsible partner : Aquitaine Regional Council

Installation of specific signage for improved tourist information. This project is divided into two complementary operations. The first involves the methodological presentation of the tourism project for promotion of the "Rivières et Canaux du Midi" implemented by the three regional tourist boards and VNF, and is focused on a particular segment of the waterway tourism market : the trip boat operators.
The second operation is a study to draw up a standard system of tourist signage along the waterways. This involves properly identifying the overall cruising area and its various distinct component areas. These two sub-projects both contribute to labelling the overall tourism product represented by the waterways. They are complementary because it is essential for a tourist product to be clearly identified if it is to be successfully marketed.

Project started 9/99

Budget 88 000 euros

References - "fiche" action 44

Responsible partner : Aquitaine Regional Council

Constitution of a data base on tourism supply along the Canal des Deux Mers and presentation of this information on the Internet. The objective of this project is to use modern information technology in order to broaden the tourist clientele of the rivers and canals, and to offer better services. This meant identifying the technical solution best suited to the tourists' information needs, taking particular care to ensure that the content supplied is relevant and is regularly expanded and updated. The project is also looking at the actual procedures and rules for communicating commercial information on the Internet. The name of the experimental site is "rivieres-et-canaux.com".

Locks down to the river Baïse from the Garonne lateral canal at Buzet-sur-Baïse

Project started 5/98 - 7/98 - 12/99

Budget 64 000 - 40 000 - 15 000 euros

References - "fiches" actions 7 - 4 - 48

Partner responsible : Conseil Régional Midi-Pyrénées

The team responsible for the VEV project within the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council is supported in this task by a consultancy specialised in studies of inland waterways and in forging European networks on this theme (Euromapping, directed by David Edwards-May, who is also vice-chairman of the association Inland Waterways International). The needs of information exchange through the network are met in part by the bilingual newsletter, published quarterly, with a print run of 2500. Read our most recent issue. The present site was designed to ensure wider dissemination of information about the VEV network, based on the contents of the newsletter, supplemented by useful information on the project as a whole and on waterways in Europe. Take part in the animation of the network thanks to our "forum" (questions and answers).

Project started 9/98

Budget 360 000 euros

Reference - "fiches" actions 1/2/39/40

Partner responsible : Voies Navigables de France

This action involves setting up has web site accessible to the general public, to make available and promote the historic archive material held by the various partners in the project or third parties, as well as an "extranet "site containing a common data base for the purposes of the waterway authorities, with the following main sub-headings: operation and maintenance of inland waterways, transferable technical, methods, innovations or experiments, files not available one the main site available to the general public on the Internet.
The project also comprises some work on the historic building housing the precious Canal du Midi archives, to ensure improved conservation and accessibility, and the opening of a transnational exhibition space, paying tribute to the VEV partnership, in the old covered dry dock of the Canal du Midi in Toulouse (exceptional building of the first half of the 19th century).

The Canal du Midi archive building in Toulouse

Project started 5/98

Budget 70 000 euros

References - "fiche" action 6

Responsible partner: Voies Navigables de France

The VEV project was launched in the context of an international conference on heritage inland waterways, organised by Voies Navigables de France to celebrate the listing of the Canal du Midi as a world heritage site, under the aegis of UNESCO. The transcription of the debates of this conference is available on request. Please note however that the contributions appear in the language used by each speaker.

Project started 9/99

Budget 190 000 euros

Reference - "fiches" actions 3/57

Partner responsible : Conseil Régional Languedoc-Roussillon

With recognition of the Canal du Midi as a UNESCO World Heritage site (and its listing as a protected site under French law), the concept of a "buffer zone" for the protection of the landscape has appeared. This suggests a different approach to the treatment of the all kinds of development on or close to the canal, extending well beyond the "public waterway estate", to take into account the surrounding area and landscapes.
Languedoc-Roussillon Regional Council thus considered it important to engage a wide-ranging reflection involving the many actors of this environment. The council's environment agency led this process, appointing for the purpose two separate firms of landscape architects and town planners. The project aims to prepare recommendations which could then be adopted by the local actors, both public and private.

Characteristic Canal du Midi landscape near Le Somail (junction canal towards Narbonne)