Agde near Cap D'Agde
Canal du Midi Maps
Castenaudary to Carcassonne Canal du Midi Map
Carcassonne to Poilhes (also Narbonne) Canal du Midi Map
Poilhes to Beziers to Sete Canal du Midi Map
Sete to Aigues Mortes to Saint Gilles Canal du Rhone Map
See detailed information on Sète to
Agde Map
Introduction to the Canal du Midi, Languedoc, South France,
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, down the
Canal de Jonction to Salleles d'Aude, 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,
cross over the oldest canal bridge in the world at Pont Canal du Repudre, glide past bluff top villages like
Paraza, and sleepy Minervois villages of
Roubia, and
Argens Minervois, 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, visit
Trebes, with Medieval paintings at the church then -
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.
