Una infraestructura como paisaje cultural lineal: notas sobre el Canal du Midi

Abstract

The notion of “cultural Landscape”, which is often associated with certain sites laboured by human activity, can present certain contradictions and difficulties when applied to trans-territorial infrastructures. Such constructions, understood herein as a linear cultural heritage, can present certain difficulties not only when developing their specific heritage project but also with their later management. Such circumstances are mainly rooted, on the one hand, in their vast dimensions and expensive maintenance costs, and, on the other hand, by the difficult task which implies defining, protecting, and keeping their overall image and identity. The main example which I would like to propose in order to interrogate such hipothesys is the Canal du Midi, in southern France, and I take as a starting point its consideration as World Heritage by the Unesco in 1996.