Fonseranes Locks

Fonseranes Locks are a flight of staircase locks on the Canal du Midi near Béziers.

They consist of eight oval-shaped lock chambers, characteristic of the Canal du Midi, and nine gates, which allow boats to be raised a height of 21.5 metres over a distance of 300 metres. The flight was originally built as an eight-rise, which together with the ninth lock allowed boats to cross the Orb river on a level and re-enter the canal further downstream. The "nine locks" name dates from this time.

However, in 1858 an aqueduct was built to replace the crossing of the Orb. Boats now enter and leave the lower end of the flight through the side of chamber seven, which is permanently kept at its upper water level. The flight is therefore effectively made up of six locks.