CANAL DU MIDI GUIDE
maps
Castenaudary - Carcassonne
Carcassonne - Narbonne - Poilhes
Poilhes - Beziers - Sete
Sete - Aigues Mortes - Saint Gilles

See detail information on Sète to Agde

Be seduced by the Canal du Midi, built from 1666, by up to 12,000 men, crossing rivers, tunnelling through hills, irrigated from the mysterious Montagne Noir, with grace and beauty that lives on to this day. It runs 235 kilometers, requires over 100 locks. It is a love affair of man, nature, and engineering. The canal was created by Riquet, the tax farmer for Languedoc who wanted to join the economies of the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. He sacrificed everything to make sure of its completion - even using his daughters' dowries for the cause.

From the handsome city of Toulouse to the port of Sete, the canal cuts masterfully with grace and physical agility through the Southern France. Villages and towns reaped profit from its golden days, in grand homes, houses, chateaux that brace the waters edge. Now canal boats cruise full of tourists and leisure seekers where king fishers and bright birds sing. Lock keeper houses some still keep the keepers, whilst others have been opened up as restaurants, art galleries, and holiday homes.

TAKE A SHORT TRIP ALONG THE CANAL DU MIDI

Start the Canal du Midi guide at Sete where the canal opens onto the Mediterranean. Then to Agde, with its fortress church, small village streets, past the thriving town of Beziers famous for bullfights in the Summer and its Flower Market, on past to the incredible 13th century Etang de Montady, with nearby Roman oppidum. Squeeze under canal bridges such as at Capestang with its muscular village church, and Sunday market, and stop the night under trees. Then take a side trip, through the 1780's Ecluse de Gailhousty with dry dock, on the Canal de la Robine, to Narbonne with Cathedral, shops, and a huge outdoor Market. Yearning for bathing and beaches? go on to where the canal skirts the Mediterranean.

Back on the Canal du Midi, stop in and taste the wine, as at Ventenac, glide past bluff top villages like Paraza, through graceful locks near Homps and be enchanted by master surrealist wood sculptures near Puicheric.

There are still more wonders and magic at every turn -Carcassonne - the Medieval castle and city featured in many a movie, Castelnaudary where the valley widens, and finally to Toulouse, full of wild exuberance, and colorful nightlife.

Boat Rentals France
Canal boats and cruisers for rental

Hotel Barges
Take all inclusive guided tours for a week on the Canal

BOATS FOR SALE

Canal boats

HOMES FOR SALE

New villas/homes, Portiragnes
Designed to suit. from 340,000FF

Home Hunters

Rural Retreats

Own Direct

RESTAURANTS

Café du Port
Paraza.

Auberge La Passiflore
Cruzy, 5kms from canal

L'Auberge de la Croisade
Port Seriege, near Cruzy

Chez Philippe
Marseillan

Maguelone
Aigues Mortes