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One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours Worldwide
Representing Local Bike Tour Companies
More than 400 Tours in 70 Countries
Get our newsletter | Contact Us
Call (877) 462-2423 or (423) 756-8907
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| Type of tour: | Self-guided/Guided |
| Level: | Leisurely |
| Duration: | 6 Nights |
| Distance: | 26 Miles/day average |
| Dates: | Self-guided: Sun: Mar 25 to Oct 28 2012; and Sun: Mar 24 - Oct 27, 2013 Guided: Sundays: Mar 24; Apr 7, 21; May 5, 19; Jun 2, 16; Sep 1, 15, 29; Oct 13, 2013 |
| Tour price: | €690 (self-guided) €990 (guided) |
| Start city: | Sete, France |
| End city: | Carcassone, France |
The Canal du Midi is undoubtedly the most beautiful canal in Europe. It was built by Pierre Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1681 in order to link the Mediterranean to Atlantic ocean. This idea had already been dreamt of by the Romans but was only carried out sixteen centuries later and even at that time was a considerable technological achievement.
Nowadays this calm restful waterway is lined on both sides by more than a 100,000 100-year-old trees. All along the 260 km / 160 miles of water situated in the South of France and the 64 locks, you will come accross authentic and varied landscapes. You will come across such exceptional places of touristic interest as the medieval walled town of Carcassonne.
Other equally fascinating sites will make pleasant stopping points on your trip between the sea-port of Sète and Carcassonne. Agde is well-known for its wonderful fortified Romanesque cathedral built in basalt, Béziers for its 2000-year-old Roman bridge, its cathedral and its canal bridge and Narbonne for its great Gothic cathedral, its archbishop's palace and its Roman underground warehouses.
There are also numerous villages (typical of the South of France) spread out the whole way along your trip. You can discover new places, breathe in nice odours, get some fresh air, look around you and feel relaxed on your bicycle and at the same time undertake an activity which is good for your mind and body.
This promenade along the water edge away from traffic will allow you to meet local people and other tourists and to appreciate the wonderful local cuisine.
Not sure whether to book a guided or self-guided tour? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.
The Canal du Midi is undoubtedly the most beautiful canal in Europe. It was built by Pierre Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1681 in order to link the Mediterranean to Atlantic ocean. This idea had already been dreamt of by the Romans but was only carried out sixteen centuries later and even at that time was a considerable technological achievement.
Nowadays this calm restful waterway is lined on both sides by more than a 100,000 100-year-old trees. All along the 260 km / 160 miles of water situated in the South of France and the 64 locks, you will come accross authentic and varied landscapes. You will come across such exceptional places of touristic interest as the medieval walled town of Carcassonne.
Other equally fascinating sites will make pleasant stopping points on your trip between the sea-port of Sète and Carcassonne. Agde is well-known for its wonderful fortified Romanesque cathedral built in basalt, Béziers for its 2000-year-old Roman bridge, its cathedral and its canal bridge and Narbonne for its great Gothic cathedral, its archbishop's palace and its Roman underground warehouses.
There are also numerous villages (typical of the South of France) spread out the whole way along your trip. You can discover new places, breathe in nice odours, get some fresh air, look around you and feel relaxed on your bicycle and at the same time undertake an activity which is good for your mind and body.
This promenade along the water edge away from traffic will allow you to meet local people and other tourists and to appreciate the wonderful local cuisine.
Not sure whether to book a guided or self-guided tour? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.
Day 1: Sète
Individual arrival.
Overnight in Sète
Day 2: Sète - Bèziers (33 miles/55 km)
Meeting at the hotel reception around 09.30 a.m. for more explanations on the tour and distribution of bikes - if rented. Ride along the beach road to Agde (visit the old town and the cathedral). Along the beach you bike on field paths to Cap d'Agde, a lovely village with an old roman church. Along the the canal du Midi you cycle to Béziers.
Overnight in Béziers.
Day 3: Béziers - Narbonne (27 miles/45km)
Visit Béziers, then via the bridge over the river Orb you reach the 7 Fonséranes locks. Continue on side roads and field paths past the Celtic Oppidum of Ensérune and an imposing Gothic church in Capestang. You continue on little roads and paths through wine fields until Narbonne.
Overnight in Narbonne.
Day 4: Narbonne - along the Canal de la Robine to the Mediterranean Sea - Narbonne (27 miles/45 km)
Today you are cycling between étangs (salt lakes) and the Natural Parc to the beaches of Narbonne.
Overnight in Narbonne.
Day 5: Narbonne - Homps (28 miles/45 km)
Narbonne (visit the old town and its famous ancient monuments like the archbishop's palace, Gothic cathedral); then you ride along the Canal de la Robine and on little roads to the Canal du Midi, and then to the little village of Homps. You dine and stay at hotel on the canal bank.
Overnight in Homps.
Day 6: Homps - Carcassone (31 miles/50 km)
Again you follow the Canal du Midi until you reach the fascinating, historical city of Carcassone, the famous medieval walled town with its 2 circular walls and huge medieval fortress, the largest in Europe.
Overnight in Carcassone.
Day 7: Carcassonne
Individual departure (return transfer available).
Or you can lengthen your trip until Toulouse (self-guided):
Day 7: Carcassonne – Castelnaudary (approx. 50 km/31 miles)
You follow always the Canal du Midi, discover new villages and arrive in Castelnaudary.
Overnight in Castelnaudary.
Day 8: Castelnaudary – St. Ferréol lake - Castelnaudary (approx. 50 km/31 miles)
On little roads and pathes to the heart of the Canal project, the St. Ferréol lake in the black mountains (Montagne Noire), discover new villages like Revel with one of the nicest covered markets of France and back to Castelnaudary.
Overnight in Castelnaudary.
Day 9: Castelnaudary – Toulouse (approx. 60 km/34 miles)
Always along the Canal du Midi and arrival in the heart of the very nice town of Toulouse.
Overnight in Toulouse.
Day 10: Departure
Individual departure or extra night (return transfer available).
Day 1: Sète
Individual arrival.
Overnight in Sète
Day 2: Sète - Bèziers (33 miles/55 km)
Meeting at the hotel reception around 09.30 a.m. for more explanations on the tour and distribution of bikes - if rented. Ride along the beach road to Agde (visit the old town and the cathedral). Along the beach you bike on field paths to Cap d'Agde, a lovely village with an old roman church. Along the the canal du Midi you cycle to Béziers.
Overnight in Béziers.
Day 3: Béziers - Narbonne (27 miles/45km)
Visit Béziers, then via the bridge over the river Orb you reach the 7 Fonséranes locks. Continue on side roads and field paths past the Celtic Oppidum of Ensérune and an imposing Gothic church in Capestang. You continue on little roads and paths through wine fields until Narbonne.
Overnight in Narbonne.
Day 4: Narbonne - along the Canal de la Robine to the Mediterranean Sea - Narbonne (27 miles/45 km)
Today you are cycling between étangs (salt lakes) and the Natural Parc to the beaches of Narbonne.
Overnight in Narbonne.
Day 5: Narbonne - Homps (28 miles/45 km)
Narbonne (visit the old town and its famous ancient monuments like the archbishop's palace, Gothic cathedral); then you ride along the Canal de la Robine and on little roads to the Canal du Midi, and then to the little village of Homps. You dine and stay at hotel on the canal bank.
Overnight in Homps.
Day 6: Homps - Carcassone (31 miles/50 km)
Again you follow the Canal du Midi until you reach the fascinating, historical city of Carcassone, the famous medieval walled town with its 2 circular walls and huge medieval fortress, the largest in Europe.
Overnight in Carcassone.
Day 7: Carcassonne
Individual departure (return transfer available).
Or you can lengthen your trip until Toulouse (self-guided):
Day 7: Carcassonne – Castelnaudary (approx. 50 km/31 miles)
You follow always the Canal du Midi, discover new villages and arrive in Castelnaudary.
Overnight in Castelnaudary.
Day 8: Castelnaudary – St. Ferréol lake - Castelnaudary (approx. 50 km/31 miles)
On little roads and pathes to the heart of the Canal project, the St. Ferréol lake in the black mountains (Montagne Noire), discover new villages like Revel with one of the nicest covered markets of France and back to Castelnaudary.
Overnight in Castelnaudary.
Day 9: Castelnaudary – Toulouse (approx. 60 km/34 miles)
Always along the Canal du Midi and arrival in the heart of the very nice town of Toulouse.
Overnight in Toulouse.
Day 10: Departure
Individual departure or extra night (return transfer available).
Sundays: Mar 24; Apr 7, 21; May 5, 19; Jun 2, 16; Sep 1, 15, 29; Oct 13, 2013
Sun: Mar 25 to Oct 28 2012; and Sun: Mar 24 - Oct 27, 2013.
Arrival on other dates possible for groups of 4+ (surcharge of €60/person for groups less than 4)
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There is no support van for this tour, and it not always possible to ride with the luggage transfer vehicle.
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Day 1: Le Grand Hotel, Sète
www.legrandhotelsete.com
A charming hotel in the heart of Sète. A warm welcome awaits you from Lydie Duboisand her team in this 19th century hotel which unites the light of the South, the charm of the canals and the peace of a glassâ€ÂÂroofed atrium. An outstanding setting, a variety of environments, spacious rooms and a tranquillity which is rare in the heart of the town.
Day 2: Hotel Les Grenadines, Cap d’Agde
www.hotelgrenadines.com
Les Grenadines is a family hotel, quiet and comfortable at 150 mètres from the Richelieu Beach, where Isadora and Vincent reserve you a good welcoming. A little paradise ...Quiet area. Direct access to Richelieu Beach by a footpath alongside the hotel. Completely air-conditioned, swimming pool and solarium open from May 15th till September 30th. Free Wi-fi.
Day 3: Hotel des Poètes, Béziers
www.hoteldespoetes.net
In the heart of Beziers, facing the beautiful "Plateau des Poètes", and just a short walk from the train station, the Hotel des Poètes welcomes you for a romantic and peaceful stay!
Day 4: Grand Hotel du Languedoc, Narbonne
www.hoteldulanguedoc.com
Founded in 1885, the hotel is situated in Languedoc in the heart of historic downtown and near the railway station of Narbonne. Our 40 rooms are all equipped with shower or bath, toilet and satellite TV . A sweet and savory breakfast at will suit your desires. Free wireless internet access and unlimited adds more to your stay. A lift to reach the rooms. All our services are applicable 24/24 , 365 days / year.
Day 5: Auberge L’Arbousier, Homps
www.auberge-canaldumidi.com
Transformed into an inn in 1987, this former winery keeps in its history the great volumes, and an imposing stone structure. The reception and kitchen play sincerity. The products follow the seasons and local wines exalt the flavors.Our eleven rooms are all different, five open on the Canal du Midi, three private terraces, and three on the large private courtyard. They share the comfort and tranquility that you will find every evening after the sunset that gild our terrace.
Day 6: Hotel Trois Couronnes, Carcassonne
www.hotel-destroiscouronnes.com
Discover a magnificent panorama over the old city of Carcassonne. The hotel Les Trois Couronnes in Carcassonne, is facing the remparts of the medieval city. A privileged position, on the banks of the river “Aude”. At 10 minutes walking from the fortress the hôtel des trois couronnes has 70 bedrooms, including 44 with individual panoramic balcony. Our panoramic restaurant proposes a traditionnal and regional cooking.
Extension to Toulouse
Days 7 and 8: Hôtel du Canal, Castelnaudary
www.hotelducanal.com
In the heart of "Cathar Country", near the center of Castelnaudry, Cassoulet capital, experience new thrills with every passing season and moments of boundless charm in this bright, friendly, distinctive dwelling featuring 38 comfortable, elegant individual or family rooms, including 2 rooms for guests with reduced mobilitiy. Savoury, copious breakfast served in the morning lounge, on the terrace, or in your room.
Day 9: Grand Hôtel d’Orléans, Toulouse
www.grand-hotel-orleans.fr
The « Grand Hotel d’Orléans » in Toulouse center town is a delightful and charming hotel matching the XXI rst century comfort. Close to the train station, and the airport coach station, this 3 stars hotel offers you several services: 56 bedrooms, car park, one restaurant, business meeting rooms, lift, garden, free WIFI connection. You will meet as well all your modern comfort expectations: Air conditioning, hair dryer, plasma TV screen with cable (27 channels)…. Our hotel welcomes you to enjoy a nice and comfy trip in Toulouse, and taste the typical south of France « art de vivre ».
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Day 1: Le Grand Hotel, Sète
www.legrandhotelsete.com
A charming hotel in the heart of Sète. A warm welcome awaits you from Lydie Duboisand her team in this 19th century hotel which unites the light of the South, the charm of the canals and the peace of a glassâ€ÂÂroofed atrium. An outstanding setting, a variety of environments, spacious rooms and a tranquillity which is rare in the heart of the town.
Day 2: Hotel Les Grenadines, Cap d’Agde
www.hotelgrenadines.com
Les Grenadines is a family hotel, quiet and comfortable at 150 mètres from the Richelieu Beach, where Isadora and Vincent reserve you a good welcoming. A little paradise ...Quiet area. Direct access to Richelieu Beach by a footpath alongside the hotel. Completely air-conditioned, swimming pool and solarium open from May 15th till September 30th. Free Wi-fi.
Day 3: Hotel des Poètes, Béziers
www.hoteldespoetes.net
In the heart of Beziers, facing the beautiful "Plateau des Poètes", and just a short walk from the train station, the Hotel des Poètes welcomes you for a romantic and peaceful stay!
Day 4: Grand Hotel du Languedoc, Narbonne
www.hoteldulanguedoc.com
Founded in 1885, the hotel is situated in Languedoc in the heart of historic downtown and near the railway station of Narbonne. Our 40 rooms are all equipped with shower or bath, toilet and satellite TV . A sweet and savory breakfast at will suit your desires. Free wireless internet access and unlimited adds more to your stay. A lift to reach the rooms. All our services are applicable 24/24 , 365 days / year.
Day 5: Auberge L’Arbousier, Homps
www.auberge-canaldumidi.com
Transformed into an inn in 1987, this former winery keeps in its history the great volumes, and an imposing stone structure. The reception and kitchen play sincerity. The products follow the seasons and local wines exalt the flavors.Our eleven rooms are all different, five open on the Canal du Midi, three private terraces, and three on the large private courtyard. They share the comfort and tranquility that you will find every evening after the sunset that gild our terrace.
Day 6: Hotel Trois Couronnes, Carcassonne
www.hotel-destroiscouronnes.com
Discover a magnificent panorama over the old city of Carcassonne. The hotel Les Trois Couronnes in Carcassonne, is facing the remparts of the medieval city. A privileged position, on the banks of the river “Aude”. At 10 minutes walking from the fortress the hôtel des trois couronnes has 70 bedrooms, including 44 with individual panoramic balcony. Our panoramic restaurant proposes a traditionnal and regional cooking.
Extension to Toulouse
Days 7 and 8: Hôtel du Canal, Castelnaudary
www.hotelducanal.com
In the heart of "Cathar Country", near the center of Castelnaudry, Cassoulet capital, experience new thrills with every passing season and moments of boundless charm in this bright, friendly, distinctive dwelling featuring 38 comfortable, elegant individual or family rooms, including 2 rooms for guests with reduced mobilitiy. Savoury, copious breakfast served in the morning lounge, on the terrace, or in your room.
Day 9: Grand Hôtel d’Orléans, Toulouse
www.grand-hotel-orleans.fr
The « Grand Hotel d’Orléans » in Toulouse center town is a delightful and charming hotel matching the XXI rst century comfort. Close to the train station, and the airport coach station, this 3 stars hotel offers you several services: 56 bedrooms, car park, one restaurant, business meeting rooms, lift, garden, free WIFI connection. You will meet as well all your modern comfort expectations: Air conditioning, hair dryer, plasma TV screen with cable (27 channels)…. Our hotel welcomes you to enjoy a nice and comfy trip in Toulouse, and taste the typical south of France « art de vivre ».
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
The hybrid touring bikes available are manufactured by Giant:
Both bikes have an aluminium frame and rims, chain-guard and fork suspension. They also have special anti-puncture wheels. They are equipped with 1 saddle bag, map holder, pump, lock, repair set and safety coat.
An electrically assisted bike is also available. It is a women's step-through aluminium frame with a seamless electric power boost.
A tandem bike is also available (limited, upon request).
The hybrid touring bikes available are manufactured by Giant:
Both bikes have an aluminium frame and rims, chain-guard and fork suspension. They also have special anti-puncture wheels. They are equipped with 1 saddle bag, map holder, pump, lock, repair set and safety coat.
An electrically assisted bike is also available. It is a women's step-through aluminium frame with a seamless electric power boost.
A tandem bike is also available (limited, upon request).
The tour is rated leisurely and is for cyclists in average physical condition.
Most of the bike trails are dirt road and in many cases single track. Although much of the route is flat, easy and with a comfortable surface, many sections have rougher, less even and sometimes rutted surfaces.
The tour is rated leisurely and is for cyclists in average physical condition.
Most of the bike trails are dirt road and in many cases single track. Although much of the route is flat, easy and with a comfortable surface, many sections have rougher, less even and sometimes rutted surfaces.
"Our bike trip Canal du Midi: Sete to Carcassonne was excellent. We got to see water jousting in Sete, swim in the Mediterranean, and spend a week cycling along the most charming canal. The day we returned to Sete was Stage 13 of Tour de France, very exciting. The castle in Carcassonne was the view from our hotel window! Great trip, and the weather was perfect!"
- Cathy H.
2012
"The tour was great. The Canal du Midi: Sete to Toulouse trip was super. Since it was mostly along the canal, it was not only super easy but also mostly shaded by giant sycamore trees. You've got to love France if nothing else for the lovely lunch-stop restaurants along the route everyday. The hotels were very nice and very easy to navigate to. Particular thanks to you for recommending the evening meal option, because the restaurants arranged by the tour group were OUTstanding... really exceptional. We had two evenings where there was a mix-up with the dinner reservations, but we easily figured it out and the meals were delightful. Two members of our group were first-time cyclists and this was the perfect trip for them. Thanks for the assistance, the recommendations and making all the arrangements."
- Tommy N
2011
"Our bike trip Canal du Midi: Sete to Carcassonne was excellent. We got to see water jousting in Sete, swim in the Mediterranean, and spend a week cycling along the most charming canal. The day we returned to Sete was Stage 13 of Tour de France, very exciting. The castle in Carcassonne was the view from our hotel window! Great trip, and the weather was perfect!"
- Cathy H.
2012
"The tour was great. The Canal du Midi: Sete to Toulouse trip was super. Since it was mostly along the canal, it was not only super easy but also mostly shaded by giant sycamore trees. You've got to love France if nothing else for the lovely lunch-stop restaurants along the route everyday. The hotels were very nice and very easy to navigate to. Particular thanks to you for recommending the evening meal option, because the restaurants arranged by the tour group were OUTstanding... really exceptional. We had two evenings where there was a mix-up with the dinner reservations, but we easily figured it out and the meals were delightful. Two members of our group were first-time cyclists and this was the perfect trip for them. Thanks for the assistance, the recommendations and making all the arrangements."
- Tommy N
2011
Nearest Airports: Montpellier or Bèziers-Vias or Toulouse (if you lengthen your trip). Or fly via Paris and take the TGV high-speed train.
Train ticket to return from Carcassone to Sète €25, or France-Bike car can pick you up for €35 (parties of at least 4).
Transfer from Toulouse to Sète €60.
Hotel garage ca. €9 per day (payable at hotel)
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Nearest Airports: Montpellier or Bèziers-Vias or Toulouse (if you lengthen your trip). Or fly via Paris and take the TGV high-speed train.
Train ticket to return from Carcassone to Sète €25, or France-Bike car can pick you up for €35 (parties of at least 4).
Transfer from Toulouse to Sète €60.
Hotel garage ca. €9 per day (payable at hotel)
Tips on getting to and from your tour
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Weather Underground offers information on average and record temperatures at many destinations throughout the globe. Type a destination in the search box and enter a travel date range to learn about seasonal weather patterns.
Get weather information.
Gerald and Jean Hasser booked their May 2012 Canal du Midi bike tour with BikeToursDirect and published this trip report, "Biking in the South of France," in the Napa Valley Register.
A nine-day trip through the Languedoc region in the south of France is scenic, historic, gastronomic, mostly level, feasible for bike riders of various ages and abilities — and it’s affordable.
After playing tourist in Paris and Avignon for a week, we arrived via train in late May at the starting point for the bicyle trip in the city of Seté on the Mediterranean coast. One can fly from San Francisco and eventually end up at the nearest airport in Montpelier, but why skip Paris and other interesting places on the way?
Days and nights of walking and standing in museums, monuments and galleries left our feet looking forward to pushing nothing harder than bicycle pedals.
Seté is a working port city. Our first lodging overlooked the recreational harbor, providing a nice sunset. Our room at the (not too) Grand Hotel provided a good night’s sleep following a delicious dinner in the ground floor restaurant.
Monday morning after breakfast, we met the pleasant young man representing francebike.com, as well as several new German friends who had booked the same route. This trip was self-guided so we did not ride together; however often met up with each other at meals and points along the way. Fortunately our new friends were trilingual and rescued us more than once from restaurant miscues.
Once equipped with excellent new mountain bikes with waterproof saddlebags, bump-absorbing suspensions and seats, we were on our way in warm sun. Our previous European bike journeys had been mostly on smoothly paved paths and roads. This trip was different, much of it on dirt paths alongside the canal, with tree roots and other jolts aplenty. The suspensions and large tires were a great help in easing the bumps. Also helpful was the most important garment of any bike trip: fully padded bike shorts.
Our representatives had given us maps and directions and assured us there were plenty of little red directional arrows along the way to keep us from getting lost. It didn’t take us long to disprove that. One might call that part of the fun — or not. We sometimes went for miles without spotting the promised little red arrows, but still managed to arrive at our destination each night. The next step could be GPS units on the bikes to reduce marital navigation arguments and excessive U-turns.
Leaving Seté, we progressed along a paved beach path for several miles before turning inland to Agde, then passing through vineyards and fields of lavender and red poppies to Cap d’Agde, a Meditteranean resort town with a Coney Island feel. After a frigid dip in the unheated pool and a memorably bad pizza, we turned in at our motel around the corner from the dinosaur-themed amusement park. We realized we were lucky to pass through before the hordes of summer arrived.
The tour operator keeps travelers’ costs down by mostly booking modest two-star lodgings. Most of these were acceptable, providing clean private baths, good beds and reasonably quiet surroundings. The exception was the Hotel du France in the hill town of Bezier, our next stop. The air conditioning did not exist; large chunks of plaster were missing from the walls; the shower doors leaky enough to create a lake on the floor and the spirit of Irma la Douce was present, though sometimes disturbed by the drunks yelling in the street below. Ambience — could that be a French word? The clerk was a great guy who seemed embarrassed to work there.
Conversely, the tour operator is clearly a gourmand, choosing excellent dinner restaurants at the towns along the way.
Bezier, like so many towns in this part of the world, has a striking cathedral at its most prominent point, overlooking the countryside. From here we could see the canal passing over the river, near a staircase of eight locks just outside town.
The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO historic site, is a 150-mile-long engineering marvel of the 17th century, which took several decades and many thousands of people to build. It created a shipping route connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, allowing commerce to flow without the many risks of shipping around the Strait of Gibraltar. The canal includes 91 locks and numerous bridges, including aqueducts over rivers and creeks. It is still in working condition, now used mostly by tourist vessels that are privately or commercially operated. Many of the boats barely squeeze through the bridges and locks, gliding at a stately pace comparable to us on bikes, with champagne-sipping sunbathers atop.
The beauty and comfort of the canal is enhanced by thousands of large plane trees providing comforting shade and perches to many singing birds. Sadly, they are dying from a wilt infection and are projected to need replacing within the next 20 years.
The tree roots bumped us along much of the way the next hot and windy day through open and abundant farm fields past horses grazing in standing water marshes to Narbonne, a pleasant town with a plaza full of children playing next to the cathedral, complete with a portion of ancient Roman road as a centerpiece.
The following day took us to the lovely village of Homps, with a stop for lunch at another village where we encountered our first and only snooty waiter of the trip. It was France, after all; and the trip would not have been complete without one. Our canal-side dinner in Homps at En Bonne Compagnie more than made up for that, with great and friendly service, and food so good and gorgeous that people photographed it before dining.
The route from Homps led to Carcassonne with its spectacular restored medieval fortress old city, with views to the snow-capped Pyrenees. Carcassonne was a critical location during the Crusades of the Middle Ages and changed hands more than once. The fortress was restored over several decades in the 19th century and is now a stunning UNESCO world heritage site, eminently suitable for beers at an outdoor café after a long ride and tour of the fortress, complete with browsing the many shops inside the walls. Our room at the three-star Les Trois Couronnes looked out at the warmly lit fortress under a bright full moon to lull us into the sleep of babes.
An uneventful next leg found us in the small town of Castelnaudery, where the largest of the tour boat operations is based. Some amusement is provided watching the renters of yachts fumbling their way through their orientation in the canal’s large turning basin before signing on the dotted line. Our bike orientation was much less stressful by comparison.
The final day of riding was scotched by steady rain. No worries, we simply took the local train to Toulouse, warm and dry and comfortable with our bikes hanging by hooks in the adjoining car. Our decision to wimp out on the train instead of toughing it out on the bike path was vindicated at each station along the way as we watched dripping bicyclists board the train.
We arrived in Toulouse rested and dry, a block from our final hotel, in time to witness the aftermath of a nearby car versus motorcycle crash with much shouting and fist shaking, but no punches thrown or obvious injuries. It seemed the high point of the day for the many café-lounging witnesses.
Toulouse is lovely, with many wrought-iron balconies such as inspired the style many associate with New Orleans; a lively street scene, many fine restaurants, a huge main plaza used regularly for festivals and impressive museums.
Gerald and Jean Hasser booked their May 2012 Canal du Midi bike tour with BikeToursDirect and published this trip report, "Biking in the South of France," in the Napa Valley Register.
A nine-day trip through the Languedoc region in the south of France is scenic, historic, gastronomic, mostly level, feasible for bike riders of various ages and abilities — and it’s affordable.
After playing tourist in Paris and Avignon for a week, we arrived via train in late May at the starting point for the bicyle trip in the city of Seté on the Mediterranean coast. One can fly from San Francisco and eventually end up at the nearest airport in Montpelier, but why skip Paris and other interesting places on the way?
Days and nights of walking and standing in museums, monuments and galleries left our feet looking forward to pushing nothing harder than bicycle pedals.
Seté is a working port city. Our first lodging overlooked the recreational harbor, providing a nice sunset. Our room at the (not too) Grand Hotel provided a good night’s sleep following a delicious dinner in the ground floor restaurant.
Monday morning after breakfast, we met the pleasant young man representing francebike.com, as well as several new German friends who had booked the same route. This trip was self-guided so we did not ride together; however often met up with each other at meals and points along the way. Fortunately our new friends were trilingual and rescued us more than once from restaurant miscues.
Once equipped with excellent new mountain bikes with waterproof saddlebags, bump-absorbing suspensions and seats, we were on our way in warm sun. Our previous European bike journeys had been mostly on smoothly paved paths and roads. This trip was different, much of it on dirt paths alongside the canal, with tree roots and other jolts aplenty. The suspensions and large tires were a great help in easing the bumps. Also helpful was the most important garment of any bike trip: fully padded bike shorts.
Our representatives had given us maps and directions and assured us there were plenty of little red directional arrows along the way to keep us from getting lost. It didn’t take us long to disprove that. One might call that part of the fun — or not. We sometimes went for miles without spotting the promised little red arrows, but still managed to arrive at our destination each night. The next step could be GPS units on the bikes to reduce marital navigation arguments and excessive U-turns.
Leaving Seté, we progressed along a paved beach path for several miles before turning inland to Agde, then passing through vineyards and fields of lavender and red poppies to Cap d’Agde, a Meditteranean resort town with a Coney Island feel. After a frigid dip in the unheated pool and a memorably bad pizza, we turned in at our motel around the corner from the dinosaur-themed amusement park. We realized we were lucky to pass through before the hordes of summer arrived.
The tour operator keeps travelers’ costs down by mostly booking modest two-star lodgings. Most of these were acceptable, providing clean private baths, good beds and reasonably quiet surroundings. The exception was the Hotel du France in the hill town of Bezier, our next stop. The air conditioning did not exist; large chunks of plaster were missing from the walls; the shower doors leaky enough to create a lake on the floor and the spirit of Irma la Douce was present, though sometimes disturbed by the drunks yelling in the street below. Ambience — could that be a French word? The clerk was a great guy who seemed embarrassed to work there.
Conversely, the tour operator is clearly a gourmand, choosing excellent dinner restaurants at the towns along the way.
Bezier, like so many towns in this part of the world, has a striking cathedral at its most prominent point, overlooking the countryside. From here we could see the canal passing over the river, near a staircase of eight locks just outside town.
The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO historic site, is a 150-mile-long engineering marvel of the 17th century, which took several decades and many thousands of people to build. It created a shipping route connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, allowing commerce to flow without the many risks of shipping around the Strait of Gibraltar. The canal includes 91 locks and numerous bridges, including aqueducts over rivers and creeks. It is still in working condition, now used mostly by tourist vessels that are privately or commercially operated. Many of the boats barely squeeze through the bridges and locks, gliding at a stately pace comparable to us on bikes, with champagne-sipping sunbathers atop.
The beauty and comfort of the canal is enhanced by thousands of large plane trees providing comforting shade and perches to many singing birds. Sadly, they are dying from a wilt infection and are projected to need replacing within the next 20 years.
The tree roots bumped us along much of the way the next hot and windy day through open and abundant farm fields past horses grazing in standing water marshes to Narbonne, a pleasant town with a plaza full of children playing next to the cathedral, complete with a portion of ancient Roman road as a centerpiece.
The following day took us to the lovely village of Homps, with a stop for lunch at another village where we encountered our first and only snooty waiter of the trip. It was France, after all; and the trip would not have been complete without one. Our canal-side dinner in Homps at En Bonne Compagnie more than made up for that, with great and friendly service, and food so good and gorgeous that people photographed it before dining.
The route from Homps led to Carcassonne with its spectacular restored medieval fortress old city, with views to the snow-capped Pyrenees. Carcassonne was a critical location during the Crusades of the Middle Ages and changed hands more than once. The fortress was restored over several decades in the 19th century and is now a stunning UNESCO world heritage site, eminently suitable for beers at an outdoor café after a long ride and tour of the fortress, complete with browsing the many shops inside the walls. Our room at the three-star Les Trois Couronnes looked out at the warmly lit fortress under a bright full moon to lull us into the sleep of babes.
An uneventful next leg found us in the small town of Castelnaudery, where the largest of the tour boat operations is based. Some amusement is provided watching the renters of yachts fumbling their way through their orientation in the canal’s large turning basin before signing on the dotted line. Our bike orientation was much less stressful by comparison.
The final day of riding was scotched by steady rain. No worries, we simply took the local train to Toulouse, warm and dry and comfortable with our bikes hanging by hooks in the adjoining car. Our decision to wimp out on the train instead of toughing it out on the bike path was vindicated at each station along the way as we watched dripping bicyclists board the train.
We arrived in Toulouse rested and dry, a block from our final hotel, in time to witness the aftermath of a nearby car versus motorcycle crash with much shouting and fist shaking, but no punches thrown or obvious injuries. It seemed the high point of the day for the many café-lounging witnesses.
Toulouse is lovely, with many wrought-iron balconies such as inspired the style many associate with New Orleans; a lively street scene, many fine restaurants, a huge main plaza used regularly for festivals and impressive museums.
With more than 40,000 monuments and 6,000 museums, France's history and tradition continue to thrive in Western Europe's largest country. Along with its history, France is at the forefront of modern development, a leader among European nations. A country of contrasts, France provides opportunities for all interests. Fashion, art and elegance prosper in the dynamic cities of Paris, Lyon, and Nice. Outside the cities, a variety of landscapes stretch over the remaining 80% of the country.
France's hexagonal shape is defined by the English Channel and Atlantic on the western coast with the Pyrenees and Alps sitting on the southwest and southeast borders. The Mediterranean Sea runs along the southern coast with the Rhine River flowing beside the German border. Visitors exploring the cities or countryside can bask in France’s pleasant climate, enjoying the stylish life, local wine and cuisine.
With more than 40,000 monuments and 6,000 museums, France's history and tradition continue to thrive in Western Europe's largest country. Along with its history, France is at the forefront of modern development, a leader among European nations. A country of contrasts, France provides opportunities for all interests. Fashion, art and elegance prosper in the dynamic cities of Paris, Lyon, and Nice. Outside the cities, a variety of landscapes stretch over the remaining 80% of the country.
France's hexagonal shape is defined by the English Channel and Atlantic on the western coast with the Pyrenees and Alps sitting on the southwest and southeast borders. The Mediterranean Sea runs along the southern coast with the Rhine River flowing beside the German border. Visitors exploring the cities or countryside can bask in France’s pleasant climate, enjoying the stylish life, local wine and cuisine.
France is a land that we know very well, especially Prof. Dr. Dr.c.e. Josef Smets, the owner and manager of France-Bike. He studied french culture and history at the universities of Freiburg, Heidelberg and Montpellier where he is living since 1976. He teached these matters at Paris, Montpellier and Salzburg in Austria. He has published many papers and books about french history and culture. You can benefit of our specific know how about France.
So it is not astonishing that the major part of our tours takes place in France because no country of Europe possedes so many different and magnificent landscapes than France. And all know that one don't eat so good as in France. This is the reason why we want to propose tours that belong to the best of the cycle travel market in Europe. Our motto is: high quality and specific pleasure.
We don't want to organize tours without good hotels and excellent meals. You can be sure that you'll dine in restaurants belonging to the best of each town. Our tours are cultural and gastronomic tours. And you'll ride in the most beautiful landscapes of France discovering a particularly nice nature as Provence, the Camargue, the Lubéron, the Pyrenees, the Canal du Midi. And Loire, Périgord, Bordeaux, Atlantic, Burgundy, Brittany, Alsace ...
Our "classical" tours are well known
Canal du Midi, Pyrenees-Mediterranean, our tour in Provence and Camargue. You'll cross beautiful landscapes and have our "normal" high quality accomodations. Furthermore, the mild mediterranean climate with more than 3000 sun hours per year makes it (nearly) sure to ride without rain.
France-Bike wants to make surprises with new destinations and always with our usual high quality accomations, plus good weather.
Languedoc-Camargue is a very beatiful trip and also Provence-Lubéron and Lavender that leads you in some hidden and more unknown parts of the Provence; but how nice it is!
Provence de Luxe **** is our "king size" tour, you'll make a real dream tour in the nicest hotels of the Provence with divine dinners.
An other gastronomic highlight for epicures is the specific journey Gourmet days in Montpellier; we propose very nice hotels and very good restaurants.
And if you wish to learn to cook good and typical french meals by yourself, we recommend to book Provence - Cook, Taste, Ride.
We explore new regions of France: Périgord, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Brittany, Alsace and add new trips every year.
Make a virtual journey on our website. We would be glad to welcome you on one of our tours.
Your France Bike Team
France is a land that we know very well, especially Prof. Dr. Dr.c.e. Josef Smets, the owner and manager of France-Bike. He studied french culture and history at the universities of Freiburg, Heidelberg and Montpellier where he is living since 1976. He teached these matters at Paris, Montpellier and Salzburg in Austria. He has published many papers and books about french history and culture. You can benefit of our specific know how about France.
So it is not astonishing that the major part of our tours takes place in France because no country of Europe possedes so many different and magnificent landscapes than France. And all know that one don't eat so good as in France. This is the reason why we want to propose tours that belong to the best of the cycle travel market in Europe. Our motto is: high quality and specific pleasure.
We don't want to organize tours without good hotels and excellent meals. You can be sure that you'll dine in restaurants belonging to the best of each town. Our tours are cultural and gastronomic tours. And you'll ride in the most beautiful landscapes of France discovering a particularly nice nature as Provence, the Camargue, the Lubéron, the Pyrenees, the Canal du Midi. And Loire, Périgord, Bordeaux, Atlantic, Burgundy, Brittany, Alsace ...
Our "classical" tours are well known
Canal du Midi, Pyrenees-Mediterranean, our tour in Provence and Camargue. You'll cross beautiful landscapes and have our "normal" high quality accomodations. Furthermore, the mild mediterranean climate with more than 3000 sun hours per year makes it (nearly) sure to ride without rain.
France-Bike wants to make surprises with new destinations and always with our usual high quality accomations, plus good weather.
Languedoc-Camargue is a very beatiful trip and also Provence-Lubéron and Lavender that leads you in some hidden and more unknown parts of the Provence; but how nice it is!
Provence de Luxe **** is our "king size" tour, you'll make a real dream tour in the nicest hotels of the Provence with divine dinners.
An other gastronomic highlight for epicures is the specific journey Gourmet days in Montpellier; we propose very nice hotels and very good restaurants.
And if you wish to learn to cook good and typical french meals by yourself, we recommend to book Provence - Cook, Taste, Ride.
We explore new regions of France: Périgord, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Brittany, Alsace and add new trips every year.
Make a virtual journey on our website. We would be glad to welcome you on one of our tours.
Your France Bike Team
Withdrawal by the customer / subscriber replacement / alteration
First Before you travel, the customer may at any time withdraw from the contract. The customer is advised to explain the resignation in writing. In the event of cancellation or no-show without prior cancellation of the trip we are entitled to charge the following fees from the tour price:
For bike tours:
For cycling and boat trips:
The customer is entitled to prove France bike that no damage has been incurred or is substantially lower than this package.
Recommended in any case; travel cancellation insurance.
Second Each registered participant may be replaced by a third when he tells us of this until three days prior to departure. France-Bike can object to the participants of the important reasons. Then apply the above terms and conditions. If a substitute in place of the registered participant, the original contract is not affected. For the transfer effort, we are entitled to € 50 - to charge.
Third Changes regarding the booking number of persons, room number, or - art, the hotel category and catering are possible in principle to 14 days prior to departure. The associated costs we have to ask you but also take into account. Depending rebooking we will charge you € 50 - per participant.
Performance and price changes before signing the contract
The scope of the contractual services resulting from the performance specifications (eg catalog, flyers, Internet, individual choice) to concrete journey and the details referring to this in the travel confirmation. Before signing the contract to France-bike reserves in accordance with § 4 section 2 BGB InfoVO expressly for objectively justified, substantial and unforeseeable reasons to make a change in the travel, the traveler will inform you before booking. France-bike reserves in this regard, in particular, before signing a change of the price due to an increase in transportation costs, the fees for certain services (such as port or airport fees), or to explain a change in the rules applicable to such travel exchange rates after the publication of the prospectus . France-Bike reserves the right to adjust the tour price prior to closing, if desired by the customer or in the brochure advertised package is available only through the purchase of additional quotas after publication of the prospectus is. Is assembled on the customer's request, an individual itinerary, then the power requirement of the France-Bike is exclusively from the corresponding concrete offer to the customer in conjunction with the relevant booking confirmation.
Performance and price changes after the contract
After signing the contract necessary changes essential travel services, the France-Bike not be brought in bad faith, are only permitted if the changes are not substantial and do not affect the overall character of the holiday.
Price changes after conclusion of the contract only in the case of even after conclusion of the contract occurred and on completion of unforeseen increases in transportation costs or charges for certain services, such as possible port or airport fees or a change in the force for the relevant trip rates to the extent that how the increase per person or per seat on the tour price effect, if the time between signing the contract and the agreed departure date more than four months. If this were the case, the customer is immediately notified thereof. A price increase from the 20th Required days before the departure date is invalid.
In the case of a significant modification of an essential travel service or a price increase by more than 5% the traveler is entitled to free from the contract or to require participation in an equivalent hotel, if France bike is capable of such a trip at no extra cost offer from his offer.The traveler has the access rights immediately after the declaration of France Bike of the price increase or the change of the travel service to France bike asserted.
Liability and Limitation of Liability
First France-Bike is liable under the care of a prudent businessman for conscientious travel preparation, careful selection and monitoring of service providers and the correctness of the valid travel period for the service descriptions at the time of printing of the brochure.
Second Participation in the tour is at your own risk. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in a trip.
Third Each participant is responsible for ensuring that he is fit enough to face the demands of travel.
Fourth Compliance with road traffic regulations is also the responsibility of the participant.
Fifth (Like bus, boat, plane) for all shipments subject to the conditions of carriage of the transport company.
Sixth Our liability for damages other than physical damage is limited to the amount of three times the tour price, provided that the damage from France bike intentionally or by gross negligence was or where France bike solely because of a service provider is responsible.
Seventh We strongly recommend taking a travel-safety package.
Eighth If a trip for reasons to be canceled, we can not influence (strike, natural disaster, etc.) or should not be achieved in a group tour, the minimum number of participants, we reserve the right to cancel the trip at least 3 weeks before the scheduled departure . In this case, you are immediately informed and any payments already received shall be returned immediately.Further claims are excluded.
Warranty
• Remedy. If the trip is not provided under the contract, the customer may demand remedy.France-Bike can refuse the remedy, if they require a disproportionate effort, but is entitled to make corrective measures in the form of equal or greater compensation. Such a substitution may be refused by the customer only for good, objective reason recognizable. The demand for redress should be addressed directly to us or the tour guide. The tour guide is not authorized to accept claims.
• reduction of the price. For the duration of non contractual provision of the trip, to remedy through France-Bike, the customer may return from the trip a corresponding reduction of the price (reduction). The reduction does not apply if and insofar as the traveler culpably omits the defect in the first paragraph VI called the proper time display to enable them to help.
• Any claims must be no later than one month after the contractually planned end of the trip submitted to us.
Responsibilities
First If the traveler's travel documents were not obtained in advance of the trip, he must notify France bike immediately. The passenger is obliged to respect any disruptions to services to do everything it can reasonably be expected to remedying the problem and limit any damage to small or to avoid. The customer has the obligation to immediately report complaints in the first paragraph VI these authorities to be notified. They are instructed to take corrective action, if possible. If the customer fails culpably to notify a defect, then a claim for a reduction not.
Other
Jurisdiction / Applicable Law
Withdrawal by the customer / subscriber replacement / alteration
First Before you travel, the customer may at any time withdraw from the contract. The customer is advised to explain the resignation in writing. In the event of cancellation or no-show without prior cancellation of the trip we are entitled to charge the following fees from the tour price:
For bike tours:
For cycling and boat trips:
The customer is entitled to prove France bike that no damage has been incurred or is substantially lower than this package.
Recommended in any case; travel cancellation insurance.
Second Each registered participant may be replaced by a third when he tells us of this until three days prior to departure. France-Bike can object to the participants of the important reasons. Then apply the above terms and conditions. If a substitute in place of the registered participant, the original contract is not affected. For the transfer effort, we are entitled to € 50 - to charge.
Third Changes regarding the booking number of persons, room number, or - art, the hotel category and catering are possible in principle to 14 days prior to departure. The associated costs we have to ask you but also take into account. Depending rebooking we will charge you € 50 - per participant.
Performance and price changes before signing the contract
The scope of the contractual services resulting from the performance specifications (eg catalog, flyers, Internet, individual choice) to concrete journey and the details referring to this in the travel confirmation. Before signing the contract to France-bike reserves in accordance with § 4 section 2 BGB InfoVO expressly for objectively justified, substantial and unforeseeable reasons to make a change in the travel, the traveler will inform you before booking. France-bike reserves in this regard, in particular, before signing a change of the price due to an increase in transportation costs, the fees for certain services (such as port or airport fees), or to explain a change in the rules applicable to such travel exchange rates after the publication of the prospectus . France-Bike reserves the right to adjust the tour price prior to closing, if desired by the customer or in the brochure advertised package is available only through the purchase of additional quotas after publication of the prospectus is. Is assembled on the customer's request, an individual itinerary, then the power requirement of the France-Bike is exclusively from the corresponding concrete offer to the customer in conjunction with the relevant booking confirmation.
Performance and price changes after the contract
After signing the contract necessary changes essential travel services, the France-Bike not be brought in bad faith, are only permitted if the changes are not substantial and do not affect the overall character of the holiday.
Price changes after conclusion of the contract only in the case of even after conclusion of the contract occurred and on completion of unforeseen increases in transportation costs or charges for certain services, such as possible port or airport fees or a change in the force for the relevant trip rates to the extent that how the increase per person or per seat on the tour price effect, if the time between signing the contract and the agreed departure date more than four months. If this were the case, the customer is immediately notified thereof. A price increase from the 20th Required days before the departure date is invalid.
In the case of a significant modification of an essential travel service or a price increase by more than 5% the traveler is entitled to free from the contract or to require participation in an equivalent hotel, if France bike is capable of such a trip at no extra cost offer from his offer.The traveler has the access rights immediately after the declaration of France Bike of the price increase or the change of the travel service to France bike asserted.
Liability and Limitation of Liability
First France-Bike is liable under the care of a prudent businessman for conscientious travel preparation, careful selection and monitoring of service providers and the correctness of the valid travel period for the service descriptions at the time of printing of the brochure.
Second Participation in the tour is at your own risk. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in a trip.
Third Each participant is responsible for ensuring that he is fit enough to face the demands of travel.
Fourth Compliance with road traffic regulations is also the responsibility of the participant.
Fifth (Like bus, boat, plane) for all shipments subject to the conditions of carriage of the transport company.
Sixth Our liability for damages other than physical damage is limited to the amount of three times the tour price, provided that the damage from France bike intentionally or by gross negligence was or where France bike solely because of a service provider is responsible.
Seventh We strongly recommend taking a travel-safety package.
Eighth If a trip for reasons to be canceled, we can not influence (strike, natural disaster, etc.) or should not be achieved in a group tour, the minimum number of participants, we reserve the right to cancel the trip at least 3 weeks before the scheduled departure . In this case, you are immediately informed and any payments already received shall be returned immediately.Further claims are excluded.
Warranty
• Remedy. If the trip is not provided under the contract, the customer may demand remedy.France-Bike can refuse the remedy, if they require a disproportionate effort, but is entitled to make corrective measures in the form of equal or greater compensation. Such a substitution may be refused by the customer only for good, objective reason recognizable. The demand for redress should be addressed directly to us or the tour guide. The tour guide is not authorized to accept claims.
• reduction of the price. For the duration of non contractual provision of the trip, to remedy through France-Bike, the customer may return from the trip a corresponding reduction of the price (reduction). The reduction does not apply if and insofar as the traveler culpably omits the defect in the first paragraph VI called the proper time display to enable them to help.
• Any claims must be no later than one month after the contractually planned end of the trip submitted to us.
Responsibilities
First If the traveler's travel documents were not obtained in advance of the trip, he must notify France bike immediately. The passenger is obliged to respect any disruptions to services to do everything it can reasonably be expected to remedying the problem and limit any damage to small or to avoid. The customer has the obligation to immediately report complaints in the first paragraph VI these authorities to be notified. They are instructed to take corrective action, if possible. If the customer fails culpably to notify a defect, then a claim for a reduction not.
Other
Jurisdiction / Applicable Law
