The Canal du Midi: From Toulouse to Béziers by Bike

Canaux

Histoire

Nature

This multi-day cycling journey is all about rhythm and atmosphere: plane trees, vineyards, cypresses, shimmering lakes, sunflower fields, birdsong, and the soft murmur of flowing water. It’s also a ride through extraordinary cultural heritage—from the fortified citadel of Carcassonne to the many engineering marvels of the Canal du Midi, and ending with the majestic Fonseranes Locks. Along the way, you’ll visit southern towns with musical accents and warm welcomes, as well as countless charming villages with their signature facades.

Day 1

66 km

Toulouse → Castelnaudary

Begin your journey on Toulouse’s safe and scenic bike path along the Canal du Midi, accompanied by the gentle sounds of lapping water and moored barges. Before long, the rolling landscapes of Lauragais open up—hills, fields, and villages with bell-wall churches. Make a stop in Montesquieu-Lauragais to admire its red-brick facades and church, then continue to the Négra lock, once a stop for the historic Barque de Poste.

Take a break at the Gardouch lock, well-equipped for cyclists. Continue toward Avignonet-Lauragais, and reach the Seuil de Naurouze—the canal’s highest point and symbolic meeting place of Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. End the day in Castelnaudary, proud capital of cassoulet. Don’t miss the Grand Bassin at sunset, when the light turns golden.

Day 2

40 km

Castelnaudary → Carcassonne

Pedal out from Castelnaudary along the peaceful, shaded banks of the canal. The route flows gently, dotted with bridges and locks, until the towers of Carcassonne appear.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the medieval Cité of Carcassonne spans 2,000 years of history—Roman, Visigoth, feudal, and royal. With its ramparts, towers, basilica, and cobbled lanes, each stone tells a story. Take your time exploring, or even spend the night—cycling means you travel at your own pace.

Day 3

64 km

Carcassonne → Le Somail

Enter the Minervois region, where the canal winds between vineyards, cypress trees, and wine estates. In La Redorte, stop to marvel at the Argent Double spillway—Vauban’s 11-arched hydraulic feat—then roll on through Homps and its little harbor.

Lac de Jouarres awaits nearby for a break: swimming, a bite at the guinguette, or a shady pause. Your day ends in Le Somail, a charming 17th-century canal hamlet. Its port, chapel, inn, and historic Glacièremake it the perfect spot to wind down.

Day 4

44 km

Le Somail → Béziers

Start your final day along the Canal de Jonction, pedaling through the vineyards of Argeliers—birthplace of the early 20th-century winegrowers’ revolts. Pass through Capestang, crowned by its striking Saint-Étienne Collegiate Church, then reach the Oppidum of Ensérune for breathtaking views of Montady’s geometric wetland.

Next comes the Malpas Tunnel, a triple-level engineering wonder (canal, railway, and medieval drainage), then on to Colombiers with its rounded port. Finally, arrive in Béziers via the legendary Fonseranes Locks: 9 gates, 8 basins, and a 17th-century canal masterpiece. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Grand Site of Occitanie, it’s among the region’s most visited landmarks.

Take time to explore Béziers—wander the city, visit the cathedral, sample local flavors, and toast your cycling journey, completed gently and at your own pace.