Cycle the Canal du Midi and follow one of southern France's most celebrated waterways, a UNESCO World Heritage route from the vibrant pink city of Toulouse to the sparkling shores of the Mediterranean at Sète, passing through a landscape of plane tree-lined towpaths, ancient locks, vineyards, and medieval towns. Flat, car-free, and taking around a week to complete, this route is suitable for beginners and experienced long-distance cyclists alike. 

This comprehensive guidebook by author Declan Lyons describes the 260km (162-mile) route in 5 stages west to east, each between 40 and 63km (25–39 miles) in length. Optional excursions to nearby towns and countryside are also included, making it easy to tailor the trip to your interests and schedule.

• Cycle the Canal du Midi in 5 manageable stages from Toulouse to Sète, following the flat, largely car-free towpath through the heart of the Languedoc, with each stage between 40 and 63km and completable in a single day
• Explore beyond the canal with optional excursions to historic towns and villages, including Carcassonne, Narbonne, Minerve, and Béziers, adding cultural depth and variety to your cycling holiday
• Navigate with confidence using 1:200,000 maps and elevation profiles included for each stage, giving you a clear picture of the route and terrain throughout your journey from Toulouse to the Mediterranean
• Plan your trip with ease using handy stage planning tables, comprehensive accommodation listings, and practical notes on refreshments, cycle shops, and repair facilities along the Canal du Midi route
• Discover the rich history, wildlife, and culture of the Languedoc with introductory sections covering the canal's remarkable engineering history, the varied landscapes and wildlife of the region, and the food and drink traditions of southern France

Plan your Canal du Midi cycling adventure with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. Immerse yourself in the landscapes, history, and culture of southern France on one of Europe's easier and most rewarding long-distance cycle routes.

Cycling the Canal du Midi - Quick Facts

Guide name: Cycling the Canal du Midi  
Location: France – southern Languedoc  
Start point: Toulouse  
End point: Sète, Mediterranean coast  
Distance: 260km (162 miles)  
Number of stages: 5 stages (40–63km/25–39 miles each)  
Direction: West to east along the Canal du Midi towpath  
Typical duration: 1 week
Difficulty: Suitable for all abilities; flat and largely car-free along the canal towpath, with optional slightly hillier excursions by road  
Terrain: Canal towpath, minor roads, and optional excursion routes through the Languedoc countryside 
Navigation/mapping: 1:200,000 maps and elevation profiles included for each stage  
Accommodation & logistics: Comprehensive accommodation listings, stage planning tables, and practical notes on refreshments, cycle shops, and repair facilities along the route  
Best time to go: Suitable all year round; spring and autumn offer ideal temperatures; summer is busier and hotter, but with local festivals and events; winter is quietest with Christmas markets along the route  

Author Highlight

“The canal’s towpath, linking Toulouse in the Haute Garonne with Sète on the Mediterranean coast, is an excellent, rewarding cycle. It passes through some of France’s most beautiful and historic countryside: rolling plains enlivened with sunflowers, dark mountain ranges, oak forests, tinder-dry garigue, Camargue-like marshland and sandy coastlines.”

- Declan Lyons, author of Cycling the Canal du Midi

Map key
Overview map
INTRODUCTION
Regions of the canal
History
Wildlife
Culture
Cycling the Canal du Midi
When to go
Getting there and getting around
Accommodation
Food and drink
Your bike
What to take
Cycling the towpath
Health and safety
Weather
Maps
Money and communications
Using this guide
THE CANAL DU MIDI
Stage 1    Toulouse to Port Lauragais
Stage 2    Port Lauragais to Carcassone
Excursion 1    From Criminelle lock to St-Ferréol reservoir
Stage 3    Carcassone to Homps
Excursion 2    From Trèbes to Lastours
Excursion 3    From Homps to Minerve
Stage 4    Homps to Béziers
Excursion 4    To Narbonne and Port la Nouvelle
Stage 5    Béziers to Sète
Excursion 5    To Vendres salt lagoon
Excursion 6    Across Portiragnes marshes to Sérignan
Appendix A    Stage planning tables
Appendix B    Accommodation
Appendix C    Useful information
Appendix D    English–French glossary
Appendix E    Further reading
 

Seasons

Suitable all year round. Busier and hot in summer, but with lots going on; ideal temperatures but higher average rainfall in spring and autumn; quietest in winter, but with Christmas markets and fairs.

Centres

Toulouse, Carcassone, Beziers, Sète

Difficulty

Suitable for all abilities - flat and car-free along the canal with optional slightly hillier excursions by road if desired. Described in five stages to fit within a week's holiday.

Must See

Historic towns and cities: Ancient Greek Agde, Roman Narbonne, Toulouse, the 'Rose City', Carcassonne's 12th-century fortified Cité. Real French culture of La France Profonde, including myriad local festivals. Varied countryside with a wide range of animals and plants.

October 2018

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