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Canal du Midi

Magnificient buildings, sensual pleasures and mediterranean sea and pyrinees

From the Occitan metropolis of Toulouse to beginning of the Pyrenees - and finally to the "French Venice" at the Mediterranean Sea. This cycle tour leads always along the world heritage site of the Canal du Midi. You pass the ancient land of the Cathars with world-famous fortress castles like Carcassonne. You explore the former medieval and Roman tracks. The wealth of culture along the Canal du Midi is matched by culinary treasures: Excellent wine is cultivated in the Minervois and Corbière, and the outstanding cuisine has Spanish influences. Savoir vivre in Occitania.

Easy to moderate
Bike tours
8 Days / 7 Nights
Self-guided tour

Itinerary

Individual journey to Toulouse until late afternoon. Because of its buildings with reddish stones the inhabitants call Toulouse „ville rose“ too, the pink town. Take a little walk to see the important sacred buildings of Toulouse. One of it is the basilica St-Sernin de Toulouse, which is one of the most beautiful Romanesque sacred buildings in South France. Life takes place in cafés and along the Garonne at the old harbour, the Toulousains meet on the Place St. George for tapas. There's plenty to see: the Basilica of St. Sernin, the Place du Capitole or the Augustin Museum. One overnight stay in Toulouse.

Castelnaudary is the largest port at the Canal du Midi, and even the largest wine freighters could turn around here. French people take long journeys to pay their culinary respects to the town of the hearty bean stew "Cassoulet".

Carcassonne is today one of the best preserved fortress towns in Europe and since 1997 part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The mightiest building of the town and one of the biggest fortresses in Europe is the fortress Cité Médiévale of Carcassonne with its 52 towers. You can experience the lively Carcassonne best in the downtown with its lively streets and the bastion Saint Louis. One overnight in Carcarsonne.

Olonzac is the centre of the winegrowers in the Minervois, Homps was the shipping port. Vines everywhere, the Montagne Noire and the Corbière in sight, here you practise doing nothing on the canal. Overnight stay in Olonzac or Homps.

The destination of your journey today is Narbonne, you will change to the Canal, driving along the Canal de la Robine towards the Mediterranean Sea. Great buildings of the Middle Ages are the unfinished cathedral and the palace of the archbishops. Another highlight is the market hall "Les Halles", it was awarded as the most beautiful in France. One overnight stay in Narbonne.

You drive via Capestang to Béziers, passing the famous Canal Tunnel. Once a rich wine-growing metropolis, to which many magnificent buildings bear witness, Béziers is also the birthplace of Paul Riquet, the builder of the Canal du Midi. The archbishop's palace watches over the town, and the attraction on the canal are the
Neuf Écluses, the Nine Locks. One night in Béziers,

The further you cycle, the saltier the air becomes. The cycle path leads directly along the sea towards Sète, the largest French fishing town on the Mediterranean, also called "Little Venice of the Languedoc" because of its many canals. Here, an evening stroll can be excellently combined with a good meal; the town's origins are Italian - and so is its cuisine. One overnight stay in Sète.

After breakfast individual departure or extension of your trip.

Itinerary

Individual arrival in Toulouse. Due to the reddish bricks of many buildings, Toulouse is also called ‘La Ville rose’ (the pink city). Life takes place in cafés and on the Garonne at the old harbour, and the Toulousains meet at Place St. George for tapas. There is much to see: the pilgrims St. Sernin Basilica, the Place du Capitole and the Augustin museum. One overnight stay in Toulouse.

Personal Bike hand-out (if booked). Castelnaudary is the largest port at the Canal du Midi, and even the largest wine freighters could turn around here. French people take long journeys to pay their culinary respects to the town of the hearty bean stew "Cassoulet".

Carcassonne is today one of the best preserved fortress towns in Europe and since 1997 part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The mightiest building of the town and one of the biggest fortresses in Europe is the fortress Cité Médiévale of Carcassonne with its 52 towers. You can experience the lively Carcassonne best in the downtown with its lively streets and the bastion Saint Louis. One overnight in Carcarsonne.

Olonzac is the centre of the winegrowers in the Minervois, Homps was the shipping port. Vines everywhere, the Montagne Noire and the Corbière in sight, here you practise doing nothing on the canal. Overnight stay in Olonzac or Homps.

The destination of your journey today is Narbonne, you will change to the Canal, driving along the Canal de la Robine towards the Mediterranean Sea. Great buildings of the Middle Ages are the unfinished cathedral and the palace of the archbishops. Another highlight is the market hall "Les Halles", it was awarded as the most beautiful in France. One overnight stay in Narbonne.

You drive via Capestang to Béziers, passing the famous Canal Tunnel. Once a rich wine-growing metropolis, to which many magnificent buildings bear witness, Béziers is also the birthplace of Paul Riquet, the builder of the Canal du Midi. The archbishop's palace watches over the town, and the attraction on the canal are the
Neuf Écluses, the Nine Locks. One night in Béziers,

The further you cycle, the saltier the air becomes. The cycle path leads directly along the sea towards Sète, the largest French fishing town on the Mediterranean, also called "Little Venice of the Languedoc" because of its many canals. Here, an evening stroll can be excellently combined with a good meal; the town's origins are Italian - and so is its cuisine. One overnight stay in Sète.

The tour ends after breakfast. Individual return journey or extension of your stay.

Tour character

Easy to moderate

Easy to moderate heavy. Cycling takes place along the canal on renovated towpaths and on paved, quiet side roads. The bike paths are now all well expended.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & extras

Services

Included Service

  • 7 Overnights in hotels of the booked category incl. breakfast 
  • Luggage transfer 
  • Personal rental bike handover on site on the 1st bike day
  • At best elaborated route with maps (GE,EN,FR)
  • Detailed travel documents with maps 1x per room (GE,EN,FR)
  • GPS-Tracks and Navigation-App
  • For rental bikes, rental bike insurance
  • 7-days-service-hotline

Not included Service

  • Arrival and departure
  • Costs for parking
  • City tax
  • Transfers
  • Optional sightseeings
  • City maps
  • Repairs of own bike
  • Travel Insurances
  • Costs of the private requirements
Extras

Arrival/Parking

  • Good arrival via train or plane to Toulouse.
  • Airport: Toulouse, Montpellier or Béziers/Cap d´Agde
  • Via train from Séte to Toulouse approx. 40,00€
  • Cat. X: Sufficient parking spaces in a car park near the start hotel, approx. 10,00€ per day

Bus transfer on Saturday or Monday from Sète 125,00€ per person. For the return transport of your own bike we charge 39,00€ extra. A reservation is required at the time of booking, a maximum of 6 people can be transported. Payment is made on the spot.

Hotels

French hotel classification

Category X: Overnight stays in good quality hotels of the 2*/3* category and 1x in a „chambre d'hôte“ in Olonzac. All rooms with shower/bath and WC.

Category Deluxe: Overnight stays in hotels of the 3*/4* category. Mostly they are the best hotels in the place and nearly all of them offer separate wellness and beauty areas. In addition, enjoy the excellent restaurants in these beautiful accommodations. All rooms have shower/bath and WC.

Further information

Further important information in accordance with the "Pauschalreisegesetz" (Package Travel Act) can be found here!

Services & extras

Services

Included Service

  • 7 Overnights in hotels of the booked category
  • Breakfast 
  • Personal rental bike handover on site on the 1st bike day
  • Digital travel document
  • Carefully planned routes
  • Navigation-App and GPS-tracks
  • Luggage transfer
  • Rental bike insurance
  • 7-days-service-hotline

Not included Service

  • Arrival and departure
  • Costs for parking
  • City tax
  • Transfers
  • Optional sightseeings
  • City maps
  • Repairs of own bike
  • Travel Insurances
  • Costs of the private requirements
Extras

Arrival/Parking

  • Good arrival via train or plane to Toulouse.
  • Airport: Toulouse, Montpellier or Béziers/Cap d´Agde
  • Via train from Séte to Toulouse approx. € 40,00
  • Cat. X: Sufficient parking spaces in a car park near the start hotel, approx. € 12,00 per day

Bus transfer on Saturday or Monday from Sète € 125,00 per person. For the return transport of your own bike we charge € 45,00 extra. A reservation is required at the time of booking, a maximum of 6 people can be transported. Payment is made on the spot.

Hotels

French hotel classification

Category X: Overnight stays in good quality hotels of the 2*/3* category and 1x in a „chambre d'hôte“ in Olonzac. All rooms with shower/bath and WC.

Category Deluxe: Overnight stays in hotels of the 3*/4* category. Mostly they are the best hotels in the place and nearly all of them offer separate wellness and beauty areas. In addition, enjoy the excellent restaurants in these beautiful accommodations. All rooms have shower/bath and WC.

Further information

Further important information in accordance with the "Pauschalreisegesetz" (Package Travel Act) can be found here!

"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"

Meike Engling
Give us a call
+49 441 48597 28
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