The canal by bike

Cycle route: free-wheel along the canal

Riding along the canal du Midi, with a free spirit and the wind in your hair, far from traffic and noisy towns... This form of transport is becoming more and more popular among tourists. Independence and liberty are now within everyone's grasp.

Various travel companies can organise everything for you, bike hire, route planning and booking accommodation. But it's also easy for you design your own journey, deciding how much you want to do each day, according to your level.
You could, for example, ride from Toulouse to Sète, in 6 days (250 km).

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Worth noting

• You won't find it monotonous, riding your bike alongside the canal. The landscapes change constantly. You go through villages, cross vineyards and fields in the shade of century-old plane trees or in an open section. Nothing but pleasure! Those who love riding and calm will have everything they need. Even in the middle of August, the towpath is not very busy. No hold ups. Enjoy nature!
• You will find more tarmacked paths nearer Toulouse, whereas, in Greater Carcassonne, it is mainly earth tracks but since 2022, the project has been undergoing temporary paving
• The canal is known for its beautiful shaded towpaths but some areas where the plane trees have been removed are in full sun (waiting for the replanted parts to grow)
• There's not a lot of uphill, or down dale. The route is quite flat and easy to access, whatever your level. Nowadays, electrical bikes can be hired, which can provide assistance if required.
• The canal du Midi is a place of life and leisure borrowed by cyclists, pedestrians, fishermen, lock operators also used by vehicles (VNF) and company gear. It is also desirable that cyclists observe a moderate speed especially when approaching houses, lock houses, structures or crossings.
  A word of advice:a mountain bike or a bike with large wheels would be a good choice. Avoid side baggage doors so as not to rub the vegetation.
• Eating and drinking on route, is not a problem. There are lots of grocer's or mini-marts on the route, not forgetting the magnificent cafes and restaurants on the banks of the canal.

Prepare your journey

• The duration of each step, your equipment (rain, wind, sun, mosquitoes, repair kit), where to sleep, the shops you will need...
• Luggage Transport
• Bicycle reparation close to the canal
•  Consignment and bicycle parking in Carcassonne
• For a completely safe trip choose a service who has been awarded Accueil Vélo

From Alzonne to Carcassonne

From the Béteille lock to the port of Carcassonne, you'll cover a little under 20 km mainly on dirt tow paths, which do not present any great technical difficulty. In Villesèquelande, you can admire the Orme (elm) de Sully, one of the oldest in France, at over 400 years old. And as a welcome gift, you'll have a wonderful view of the Cité. Among the different possibilities for accommodation, the Carcassonnne campsite, at the foot of the Cité is under3 km away.

To know: The crossing of Carcassonne must be the subject of special attention... roots, ruts and pebbles invite on the western entrance of Carcassonne (from the bridge of Jena to the outlet of Foucaud

From Carcassonne to Homps

Head for Trèbes on a 41 km stage. Leaving Carcassonne, on good quality paths, you might meet a few joggers. You get a last look at the Cité at the Saint-Jean lock. This is less shade in this area as lots of the trees have had to be cut down being blighted with canker stain. As you reach Villedubert, you'll be riding through vines in Le Minervois, between sunshine and the discovery of vineyards such as the Millepetit and Millegrand estates and their bar/restaurants. In Homps, have a break at one of the cafes in the pretty port.

Riding along tow paths - practical information