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
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.
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.
RESTAURANTS
Le Bistrot Gourmand
Homps, nr Olonzac
Au Lavoir
Colombiers, nr Beziers
Le Comptoir Nature
Le Somail
La
Guingette
Argens
La Fourchette Folle
Roubia
L'Auberge de la Croisade
Port Seriege, near Cruzy
Le Moulin de Trebes
Trebes
Drink wonderful wine, swim in the Med, mountain streams, discover castles, abbeys and artists and musicans who came - André Derain, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, C R Mackintosh, and Tsuguharu Fujita; or go a few steps to Spain and Catalonia land of Salvador Dali - Cadaquez, and Barcelona
Go to Collioure
Drink wonderful wine, food, swim in lakes and mountain streams, discover castles, abbeys and artists and musicans
Go to Canal du Midi
Moules et Frites (Mussels and Chips)