Canal du Midi - Part 2

Made it through! The tunnel was excavated in 1679 but work was stopped initially due to the brittle sandstone that was subject to slippage. Riquet unofficially continued the excavation in secret rather than have his plans impeded and in 8 days they were through and concrete sprayed on the ceiling solved the problem. It removed the necessity for another lock. Malpas Tunnel is the oldest canal tunnel in the world.