The Tap Gallery

Annual closure of the RESERVOIR reopening on April 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

April 18, 1667: the Archbishop of Toulouse, in the presence of Pierre-Paul Riquet and other leading figures of the time, laid the foundation stone for what was to become the largest dam of the late 17th century. Built around 4 inner galleries, the dam was much admired by its contemporaries. Still in operation, its installations are not accessible to the public, except for the Galerie des Robinets... come and discover the belly of the canal's oldest dam.

From October 1: reduced frequency of visits to the Robinets gallery. Don't forget to check if a visit is organized on the day of your visit, and book your session with our online reservation!

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Rates & Practical info

05 61 80 57 57

Taps to fill the Canal du Midi?

This is the name given to the 3 bronze elements, consisting of a fixed body connected to a moving part, the ball. Rotating the spigot a quarter-turn opens the valve fully, releasing 600 L of water per second.
These valves were initially installed at the end of the Galerie du Tambour under 20 m of water. For safety reasons, they were moved around 1700 to their current location, at the end of the Galerie des Robinets, against the wall of the great wall.
Replaced several times, the current taps date from 1829 and were in use until 1994.
Today, the Galerie des Robinets can be visited by small groups, with Quartiers Lumières and Laurent Meunier providing lighting and sound effects along the 60 m of gallery.

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