Canal Du Midi: Cycling from Toulouse to Sete

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Day 1: Arrival in Toulouse

Arrival on your in the cosmopolitan and cultural town of Toulouse where red bricks are a characteristic feature. Visit the lively centre with its many fine restaurants. Discover monumental treasures, like the Place du Capitol, St. Sernin’s Cathedral and the Couvent des Jacobins, a beautiful 13th-century Dominican Monastery.

• Accommodation: Hotel Royal Wilson or similar in Toulouse

Day 2: Toulouse to Castelnaudary | 64km

You will leave Toulouse via the Paul Riquet bridge and cycle along the Canal du Midi with its characteristic barges. You enter the pastel-coloured country of Lauragais. Take a break in Avignonet, the centre of the battles during the Albegenic crusades, with lots of medieval remains, statues of crusaders and enormous churches. At the foot of the Montagne Noir, you find the highest point in the canal. This is the Narouze watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. You go down to Castelnaudary, maybe to have a real authentic cassoulet later on.

• Cycling for the day: 64km ↑467m ↓433m
• Accommodation: Hotel du Canal or similar in Castelnaudary

Day 3: Castelnaudary to Carcassonne | 43km

Surrounded by the Montagne Noir in the east and the Pyrenees in the southwest, you cycle via an original, thousand-year-old towpath to the river harbour of Bram. Bricks make way for stones, cornfields turn into vineyards. You pass age-old villages and waterworks like Béteil and the Lalande lock that show Paul Riquet’s ingenuity. Also, stop at the Cugarel mill, the Villepinte dam and the Rebenty aqueduct. Finally, you reach Carcassonne, consisting of a medieval upper town and the Bastide St. Jean situated lower.

• Cycling for the day: 43km ↑258m ↓294m
• Accommodation: Hotel du Pont Vieux or similar in Carcassonne

Day 4: Carcassonne to Homps/Olonza | 42km

After fabulous Carcassonne, go back to the peaceful quiet of the ‘Canal’ surrounded by imposing planes. Admire the bridge at Orbiel, the overflow of canal water at Argendouble and the 12th-century church in the port of Trèbes. The very doors of this church, supported by 320 oak consoles, are worth a visit. If possible, stop in the Gallic village near Marseillette and take a walk to Capendu with its Roman chapel. Through undulating vineyards, you reach your destination – Homps or Olonza, depending on the availability.

• Cycling for the day: 42km ↑247m ↓336m
• Accommodation: B&B Le jardin d’Homps or similar in Homps or Olonza

Day 5: Homps/Olonzac to Béziers | 63km

After the lock of Argens, you follow the winding path along the hillside to Le Somail. Take a break here in the old library. After that, you cycle along the Canal de la Robine to Capestang with its collegiate church, already visible from afar. From the tower, you see the sea and the 14th-century castle nearby. ‘En route’ again you pass the Gallo-Roman remains: the village Poilhes la Romaine and the Oppidum d’Ensérune. Also, admire the Malpas tunnel and the 9 locks of Foncérannes. They are evidence of the brilliance of the architect Paul Riquet, whose native village, the historic Béziers, is your destination today.

• Cycling for the day: 63km ↑508m ↓494m
• Accommodation: Hotel des Poetes or similar in Béziers

Day 6: Béziers to Sète | 50km

Although the sea isn’t visible yet, you can smell it. The landscape gets flatter and forms a mosaic of dunes, swamps and wide lagoons. It’s the habitat of the egrets that strut among horses and cattle. In this coastal region, looking like the Camargue, you pass the unique ‘Pont Bache du Libron’ and the round lock of Agde. In Agde, with its ‘dark cathedral,’ you cross the Hérault in the direction of the Thau lagoon. At the lighthouse in Onglous, the Canal du Midi ends. In Marseillan, you finally cycle along the beach to Sète – the biggest French fishing port, also well known for its beautiful beaches. This authentic town, full of pastel-coloured houses with wrought iron balconies, is crossed by several connecting canals and the Thau Basin. In the harbour, you find an abundance of fish restaurants. Everything is as fresh as can be! A visit to the large covered market is really worth-wile. Here you can buy anything that has to do with food and drink, and the products are displayed wonderfully. 

• Cycling for the day: 50km ↑302m ↓364m
• Accommodation: Hotel l’Orque Bleue or similar in Sète

Day 7: Departure

The tour ends after breakfast. Departure on your own or add extra nights.

Click to view default hotels

• Hotel Royal Wilson (Toulouse)
• Hotel du Canal (Castelnaudary)
• Hotel du Pont Vieux (Carcassonne)
• B&B Le jardin d’Homps (Homps)
• Hotel des Poetes (Béziers)
• Hotel l’Orque Bleue (Sète)

Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.