Conference in Rebigue: “Pierre Paul Riquet, the salt tax and the genesis of the Canal du Midi”, by Gérard Crevon, February 7, 2025 – Miscellaneous

For its second meeting of the 2025 season of “Au Bonheur des Docs” meetings, the Lecteur du Val, in partnership with the Rebigue media library, invites to a conference by Gérard Crevon, under the title: Pierre-Paul Riquet, the gabelle du sel and the genesis of the Canal du Midi, Friday February 7 at 7:00 p.m., at the Rebigue multipurpose room.

> Under the reign of Louis A gigantic project, the first of such magnitude in Europe, to which he devoted the last 14 years of his life, and in which he invested his entire fortune.

Who was this man? How was the salt trade organized in his time? How did the idea of ​​a navigation canal develop in Languedoc? And finally how does Riquet succeed in making it a reality? These are the themes that this conference aims to explore.

> A native of Mazamet at the foot of the Montagne Noire, Gérard Crevon had a career as a senior executive in telecommunications. Always passionate about history, particularly of the region, in 2009 he undertook in-depth research on Riquet, the construction of the Canal du Midi and that of the port of Sète, facilitated by the presence in Toulouse of the Archives of the Canals du Midi (Voies Navigables de France) and the Departmental Archives of Haute-Garonne. Among other things, he published numerous articles on Riquet and the construction of the Canal du Midi, in L'Auta (journal of the association Les Toulousains de Toulouse). In 2024, he published a work, Pierre Paul Riquet, audacity and tenacity, in which he takes stock of his research concerning Riquet, the construction of the canal and that of the port of Sète.

> At the end of the conference, Gérard Crevon will present his book: Pierre Paul Riquet, audacity and tenacity (Verona, 2024)

FREE ENTRANCE. The glass of friendship will be offered by the Rebigue librarians.

Contact : [email protected].

Site : https://www.lecteurduval.org