TV viewers may have been watching comedy best mates David Baddiel and Hugh Dennis pedal through France’s luscious landscape along the famous Canal du Midi on Channel 4’s Two Men on a Bike earlier this year. Perhaps you were inspired to go on your own biking adventure this summer.
The Canal du Midi in the south of France is an extraordinary feat of 17th century engineering, history, and beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage site…and a cyclist’s paradise. This iconic waterway stretches 223km (150 miles), linking the Mediterreanean Sea to the Atlantic Oceans via the Garonne River. Strictly speaking, “Canal du Midi” refers to the portion initially constructed from Toulouse to the Mediterranean and the area can be explored by boat and on foot as well as two wheels. This long-distance cycle through France’s southern Languedoc can be cycled in one week and being pretty flat is suitable for both first-time and experienced long-distance cyclists.
The tourist site canal-du-midi.com says: “By bike is a great way to experience this exceptional waterway. Through the villages steeped in history and past iconic engineering structures, a truly unique experience awaits you. If you’re feeling particularly brave, why not take on the age-old dream of cycling from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean?”
The boats sailing along the Canal du Midi were initially tugged along by horses on the towpaths. Nowadays the towpaths that run alongside the banks have been transformed and are suitable for cyclists, pedestrians and other users.
After much renovation work almost the entire route between Toulouse and Agde now boasts a smooth and stable path.
The man responsible for the Canal du Midi is Pierre-Paul Riquet. Thanks to his talent and knowledge of hydraulic systems, he came up with a solution to supplying this landmark with water, an issue that nobody else had managed to resolve.
This system, which is still in operation today, carries the water from the streams and rivers in the Montagne Noire to the Seuil de Naurouze, the highest point of the canal, from where this water then flows to the Mediterranean on one side, and the Atlantic on the other.
The nearby cities of Carcasonne, Narbonne and Toulouse are also worth adding to your holiday itinery. A couple of cycling holiday companies such as thenaturaladventure.com and cyclingfor softies.com both offer bike riding tours in the region or you can plan your own.
Comedian David Baddiel recalled his cycle trip along the canal in the Radio Times. He said: “The food’s lovely, the small towns are amazing, and it’s very zen, because the canal creates this sense of endlessly flowing water. It’s wonderful to cycle along it, and probably the same – times ten – if you’re on a boat.
“The only bad bit was that cycling really does make your bum hurt, and I was wanting to soak myself in a bath or bidet at the end of the day, but the hotels only had showers. And I can’t do a headstand. Next time I’ll take a bucket in which to bathe my aching undercarriage.”
While more experienced cyclists will opt for the entire route, if you cover 50 km per day, you’ll need at least 5 days to go from Toulouse to Sète. To make the most of the surrounding area, stop off in the towns and villages on the way, admire the engineering structures and just take your time, you’ll need a week or two and you’ll be able to really embrace your Canal du Midi experience!
However there are some short loop trails to explore the Canal du Midi and see some of the iconic sites, ranging from 12 km to 35 km, so there’s something for everyone. Just don’t forget your bucket!