The Canal du Midi: From Sète to Toulouse
Day 1
65 km
Sète → Béziers
Leave the lively fishing port of Sète behind as you ride alongside the Étang de Thau, between sea and lagoon. Flamingos may accompany you on this wild and windswept first stretch. At the Onglous lighthouse—where the Canal du Midi meets the lagoon—you enter the calm, fluid world of the canal.
Stop in Agde, the “black pearl” built of volcanic stone, to admire its rare round lock. Continue past the Libron works, pedal between vineyards and cypress trees, and arrive in Béziers, proudly perched on a hilltop. Stroll along the Allées Paul Riquet, visit the Saint-Nazaire Cathedral, and enjoy the view from the old bridge.
Day 2
55 km
Béziers → Le Somail
Begin your day with a visit to the Nine Locks of Fonseranes—a masterpiece of canal engineering and the third most visited site in Occitanie. Then pass through the Malpas tunnel, dug in 1679 under Riquet’s orders, and explore the archaeological site of Ensérune, overlooking the unique layout of the Montady lagoon.
The canal leads you next to Capestang, a charming winegrowing village crowned by the Collegiate Church of Saint-Étienne. After one last pause at the Canal de Jonction, you reach Le Somail—a timeless hamlet shaped by the canal and its 17th-century travelers.
Day 3
65 km
Le Somail → Carcassonne
Head into the heart of the Minervois: sun-drenched vineyards, stone villages, and the calm shade of century-old plane trees. Ride through Homps and past the Lac de Jouarres before reaching the Argent Double spillway—an ingenious flood-control structure designed by Vauban.
The route continues through La Redorte and finally brings you to Carcassonne. As the medieval citadel rises on the horizon, your day ends on a majestic note.
Day 4
40 km
Carcassonne → Castelnaudary
Take time in the morning to explore the Cité de Carcassonne, a living book of history with fortified towers and cobbled streets.
In the afternoon, cycle gently through the Lauragais region, its windmills and rolling hills. The route is dotted with typical villages and peaceful locks, ending in Castelnaudary—the capital of cassoulet. Dine by the Grand Bassin as the sun sets.
Day 5
65 km
Castelnaudary → Toulouse
Your final day blends gently rolling countryside with a southern charm. Pass through Avignonet-Lauragais and reach the Seuil de Naurouze, where waters divide between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
Continue past Gardouche, the Négra lock, and Montesquieu-Lauragais. As you near Toulouse, canal life picks up—more boats, more cafés, more life. You glide into the Pink City to the sound of lapping water, past leafy banks and lively terraces. A rich, gentle and accessible journey by bike—in pure Paulette spirit.