A true jewel of French river tourism, the Canal du Midi is one of the highlights of your holiday in the south of France. Built in the 17th century under the reign of Louis XIV by Pierre-Paul Riquet, the Canal du Midi has been cradled for hundreds of years bystanders, curious and lovers of the great outdoors who come to stroll along its poetic banks.
Linking Toulouse to Sète, from the Garonne to the Mediterranean and the Etang de Thau, the Canal du Midi extends over nearly 241 kilometres. Choosing to discover the Canal du Midi during your holidays is opting for a long journey made of river trips, hiking, cycling, rollerblading or boating. From Toulouse to Naurouze, passing by Castelnaudary (the cradle of cassoulet), but also Carcassonne and its medieval city, Trèbes, Redorte, Narbonne, Cesse, Malpas, Béziers and Portiragnes, Vias, Agde, Marseillan and Sète, the Canal du Midi will allow you to contemplate some of the most splendid treasures in southern France.
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Canal du Midi is THE major site dedicated to leisure activities. Put on your boots and put on your most beautiful captain's cap: the boat is certainly the best way to explore the meanders of the Canal du Midi. As you cruise, from flowered locks to elaborate bridges, you can enjoy the landscape while being comfortably seated on board a barge. And don't worry if you choose to rent a boat without a licence: the maximum speed allowed on the canal is only 6 km/h! There is no risk of speeding, you can enjoy the panorama in complete peace and quiet, while taking breaks to visit the small sunny villages along the Canal. If, on the other hand, you prefer to spend your holidays on land, you should know that the Canal du Midi is punctuated by many marked and secure hiking and cycling paths. From greenways to cycle routes, there are more than 250 kilometres of circuits that you can explore at your own pace during this stay!
Bordered on almost all of the century-old plane trees that are emblematic of the Canal site, it is marked by 63 locks and 350 engineering structures. True masterpieces for some, you should not miss the round lock of Agde, or the lock of Fonserannes. The bridges also make the history of the Canal: the red brick bridges around Toulouse, such as the Pont de Donneville or the Pont d'en Serny, are true unique treasures. On the Béziers side, it is the canal bridge over the Orb that fascinates visitors, just like the canal bridge at Répudre.
If there is one site that cannot be dissociated from the Canal du Midi, it is the Montagne Noire: a true jewel of preserved nature, this green Eden sees the Canal du Midi take its source between its reliefs on the side of the Alzeau water intake. You will not be able to pass through it without succumbing to the charms of Lake Saint-Ferréol, a bathers' paradise when summer comes and its hot days, or without stopping at the Lampy basin and passing through the vault of Vauban. Impossible to miss the vineyards that line the hinterland of the Canal du Midi: from the Cotaux du Languedoc to Faufères, via the AOC Minervois or the AOC Saint-Chinian, wine lovers will necessarily find their happiness.
Finally, do not hesitate to escape a little from the shores of the Canal to discover the natural splendours that lie along its path, such as the rocky bars of Cazedarnes, the pond of Capestang and its magnificent collegiate church Saint-Étienne, or Poilhes, its ancient remains and the Chaos de Réals.
