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Canal du Midi with charm

Europe's most beautiful canal with charm hotels

Bike tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
individual tour
easy to moderate
from
1,199.00 €
Book now Book
from
1,199.00 €

Undoubtedly, the Canal du Midi in southern France is Europe's most beautiful canal. And the French are rightly proud of their UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then as now, the Canal du Midi winds its way over 260 km with 64 locks through magnificent landscapes, through the famous wine-growing region of the Minervois and through villages where time seems to have stood still. In the 19th century, about 60,000 trees, mostly plane trees but also poplars, cypresses and pines, were planted to the right and left of the canal to protect the animals from the sun and for the dike reinforcement. Today, cycling under plane trees in bright sunshine is pure enjoyment. Experience southern French hospitality and explore the rich heritage of the region by bike and on foot. Discover Carcassonne with the most powerful medieval double fortification in Europe (world cultural heritage), Narbonne with its archbishop's palace, Gothic cathedral and Roman underground storage facilities, the historic old town of Béziers with its Roman bridge, the Greek Agde with its Romanesque fortified church made of basalt rock and finally the lively port and fishing town of Sète. Look forward to this unique cycle route, enjoy the sun of the south and the culinary delights of the French cuisine.

Highlights

Castelnaudary
Castelnaudary between Carcassonne and Toulouse was built around a castle in the 12th century. Castelnaudary is also known as the city of Cassoulet - a must-try duck stew with white beans.

Carcassonne
Carcassonne was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. Founded in BC and today is one of the best preserved fortified towns in Europe.

Cathedral Narbonne
Narbonne Cathedral is a former Roman Catholic cathedral. It was elevated to the status of a national monument in France.

Bèziers
Béziers is the birth town of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the builder of the Canal Du Midi. The city seduces with a fantastic view over the cathedral of Nazaire, as well as the river Orb and the bridge Pont Vieux.

Sète
Sète is surrounded by water on practically all sides and is therefore also known as the "Little Venice of Languedoc".

Canal du Midi with charm
easy to moderate
Bike tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
individual tour
from
1,199.00 €
Book now Book

Tour

It is worth arriving early because Toulouse is also known as the "ville rose" (red city) due to the reddish stone of many buildings. Marvel at the mighty Basilica St-Sernin de Toulouse and taste duck breast with green beans, a culinary specialty.

You will start your first day of cycling in a relaxed way, because you will soon reach the Canal du Midi. Along the beautiful banks under shade-giving trees, through which the sun peeps, you cycle to Castelnaudary, once the "city of mills". Of the former 32 mills, only a few remain, but the town exudes typical southern French flair. Stroll through the small center and along the colorful harbor. Famous for the place, untel today, is the "Cassoulet", a hearty bean stew.

The idyllic cycling route along the Canal du Midi tempts you to stroll and dream, but your destination Carcassonne, one of the largest medieval fortified cities in Europe, beckons. Marvel at the double ring of large massive crenellated walls. The ring measures 3 km in diameter and is an unforgettable sight with its 52 mighty towers.

Wonderfully idyllic you roll along the Canal du Midi. You will pass through charming little towns and several locks. Observe the hustle and bustle at the locks and greet the many leisure captains on their houseboats. Look forward to Olonzac in the wine-growing region of Minervois, you will be thrilled. Until today the winegrowing characterizes the place, many wine merchants are waiting for your visit.

In no time you are back at the Canal du Midi, where you are welcomed by the picturesque village of Homps with the third largest harbor of the canal. You will roll to Narbonne with pleasure. Marvel at the unfinished Saint Just et Saint Pasteur Cathedral, Saint Paul Basilica and the Palace of the Archbishops. Stroll through the city - it's worth it!

The Canal du Midi leads you to the charming village of Capestang today. Enjoy a coffee at the market place and let yourself be fascinated by this medieval town before you cycle on to Béziers. The town is the birthplace of Paul Riquet, builder of the Canal du Midi and center of the wine trade. It is also known as the "Seville of France" because of its bullfights. Enjoy the small town and the impressive 600 m long magnificent promenade, the archbishop's palace and the cathedral.

Up to Agde with its closed medieval townscape you roll comfortably along the Canal du Midi. Slowly you will notice that the air is getting saltier as you reach the Mediterranean coast with its wide white beaches. Look forward to Sète, which is almost completely surrounded by water and is called "Little Venice of the Languedoc". Enjoy the flair of the maritime city and stroll along the restaurant mile at the water, where many restaurants tempt you to stop for a bite to eat.

After varied days you will reach the Mediterranean Sea. We are happy to book additional nights for you. If you would like to return to Toulouse, you can book our practical return transfer in a minibus.

Map

Prices / Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services / Info

All-carefree services
  • Accommodation incl. breakfast in 3- and 4-star hotels
  • Room with shower/bath/WC
  • Luggage transport
  • Map of bike trails with marked route
  • Digital route guidance via smartphone app 
  • Tips for tour preparation
  • Touristic information
  • 7 days hotline service
further included services
  • Personal bike handover on site on the 1st cycle day
Things to know about your trip:

Below you will find specific information about the Canal du Midi Tour from Toulouse with charm. If you have any further questions about this trip, just give us a call: Tel: +49 6421 - 886890.

Arrival by train
Toulouse can be reached by train from all major cities in Germany. The best way to reach our partner hotel in Toulouse from the train station is a short cab ride. Current timetable information and price information can be found conveniently at www.bahn.de.

Train Connections

Parking facilities at the arrival hotel
Depending on the hotel booked and availability, parking spaces are available at the hotel or in the Matabiau car park, at a cost of approx. 19.00 € per day.

You will receive detailed information on parking facilities at the hotel you have booked with the detailed travel documents two weeks before the start of your trip.

Condition of the cycle paths
You cycle on flat, slightly hilly cycle paths, which are only partly asphalted. Most of the stages are on narrow sandy and gravel paths as well as on roads with little traffic.

Available rental bikes
If you prefer a rental bike for the tour, we will bring it to your starting hotel and of course pick it up at your destination. You can choose between 7-speed bikes with coaster brake or 21-speed gear bikes with shift and freewheel (both unisex and men's bikes). Furthermore, 8-speed e-bikes with coaster brake (all unisex) are available on request. You simply indicate your bike wish when booking.

Your hosts

The hosts for this trip are specially selected charm hotels. The accommodation corresponds to a national 3- and 4-star standard.

Toulouse: Hotel de Brienne

Castelnaudary: Domaine de la Capelle

Carcassonne: Best Westerm Hotel Le Donjon

Olonzac / Hombs: Le jardin d‘Homps

Narbonne: Clarions Suites - Moulin de Gua

Beziers: Insitu Hotel

Sète: Le Grand Hotel De Sète

Return transfer to the starting hotel
The return transfer can be booked on Saturday or Monday from Sète to Toulouse (from 2 people). A reservation is required when booking, a maximum of 6 people can be transported.

Extra costs which are not included in the price
Any tourist tax and charging fees for bicycle batteries are not included in the tour price and must therefore be paid at the hotel.

7 day hotline service
In case of chain breakdown, flooding or other bad surprises that makes a continuation of your tour impossible: no problem, we also work during weekends and you can reach us 7 days a week in case of emergency.

Passport and visa requirements
For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Travel insurance
The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

For all those who want to combine comfort with sustainability and only require digital travel documents, we grant a discount of € 20.00 per room.
Please let us know at the time of booking whether you would like to use printed or digital travel documents.

Your travel expert for this tour

I provide you with advice and assistance

Nicole Janke

Travel Expert

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