Canal du Midi by bike - Route and routes in 2, 3, 4 days + route map

If you want to cycle part of the Canal du Midi or the entire route, here are my routes with Google Maps. So from Toulouse to Sète or vice versa, you will find mini-circuits which allow you to follow this magnificent canal by bike over personalized distances.

Indeed, whether you have a weekend, 3 or 4 days or a full week, you can have fun by cycling along the Canal du Midi by bike from Toulouse, Carcassonne, Castelnaudary, Capestang , Marseillan or Sète.

Discover below the route of the Canal du Midi by bike in its entirety and the sections which can be done separately. So, you will find routes to cycle the Canal du Midi in 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or more! For each route, I share with you the Google Maps that you can follow in GPS mode.

Canal du Midi route by bike

The Canal du Midi cycling route starts at the twin bridges in Toulouse and ends at the Etang de Thau near Sète. The route of the cycle route represents a length of 235 km.

Canal du Midi distances from locks to locks

Here is a small diagram which gives you the distances between each lock throughout the Canal du Midi cycle route:

Canal du midi route - Map

Here is the map (published by the General Council of Haute-Garonne) of the route along the Canal du Midi that you can do by bike.

Organization of the bicycle tour

As this circuit does not make a loop, it is necessary to plan to rent a bike in Toulouse and return it to Sète. Thus, you can return home by train or blablacar to Toulouse without worrying about the bike.

If you use your own bicycle, you will have to return to Toulouse with your bicycle. For this, you can take the train with your bike: See detailed information on the SNCF website.

Regarding luggage, if you want to travel light, you can use the services of BagaFrance. They will transport your luggage from stage to stage. stage

Where to rent a bike in Toulouse?

The most practical is to rent your bike at The Bicycle House. It is an association which has a very good reputation and which will offer you many services and good advice.

Their main advantage is their proximity to the departure of the Canal du Midi in Toulouse: 89 Bd Pierre Semard – 31500 Toulouse – Tel 09 53 55 33 83 or 05 34 40 64 72

Canal du midi by bike - One-day sections

Here are the 4 cycling routes that can be done in 1 day. I am showing them to you in the order of the route from Toulouse to Sète but they can be done in the opposite direction from Sète to Toulouse. On the other hand, all sections can be done separately and combined for 2, 3 or 4 day courses (see below).

Discover the Google Maps of these 4 cycling routes below:

• Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Castelnaudary (54 km)
• Canal du Midi from Castelnaudary to Puichéric (69 km)
• Canal du Midi from Puichéric to Béziers (70 km)
• Canal du Midi from Béziers to Sète (52 km)

Canal du Midi by bike from Toulouse to Castelnaudary

This first section represents 54 kilometers by bike along the Canal du Midi in its part located in the Department of Haute Garonne.

Section from Toulouse to Castelnaudary

The starting point of the route is from Toulouse, my hometown. Take the opportunity to arrive a day before for visit Toulouse. The route will take you through small villages in Lauragais, landscapes of plains and agricultural hills.

Do not miss the village of Avignonet-Lauragais, the Mecca of Catharism. You will pass through Port Lauragais and the threshold of Naurouse. It is the site of the watershed between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The route then takes you to Castelnaudary, a small town renowned for its famous cassoulet. If you have a little time, take a detour to the Abbaye de Saint-Papoul.

Here are the tourist stops, villages, locks, restaurants, campsites of the section of the Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Castelnaudary:

Which hotel for the stopover in Castelnaudary?

For this first night of the stage, why not sleep in an old lock keeper's house? Here is a good address to be as close as possible to the Canal du Midi, near the pier in Castelnaudary.

The Grand Bassin establishment offers perfect guest rooms, ideally located when cycling around the Canal du Midi.

Canal du midi by bike from Castelnaudary to Puichéric

This second section can also be done in 1 day by bike. It represents 69 kilometers along the Canal du Midi in its part located in the Department of Aude.

Section from Castelnaudary to Puichéric

For this day of cycling, you will follow the towpath to Carcassonne. Take the opportunity to visit this magnificent medieval city and fortress.

After Carcassonne, you will follow the Canal du Midi which crosses the Minervois region. You can admire pretty little villages and wine-growing landscapes.

La Redorte is an interesting stopover for the Argent-Double outlet, built to evacuate the excess water that there might be during floods or to empty the canal.

Here are some landmarks for your tourist stops on the section of the Canal du Midi from Castelnaudary to Puichéric after Carcassonne:

Which hotel for the stopover in Puichéric?

It is in the charming village of La Redorte, 5 km from Puichéric, that I recommend spending this overnight stopover.

You can stay inexpensively in a B&B in La Marelle in a magnificent stone building with terrace and swimming pool!

Canal du midi by bike from Puichéric to Béziers

This third section is a little longer but can also be done in a day by bike. It represents 70 kilometers of the Canal du Midi route and is located in the Department of Hérault.

Section from Puichéric to Béziers

You will pass through Homps, Somail then arrive at the lively port of Capestang where you will be able to see the Saint-Etienne collegiate church and its Gothic bell tower 45 meters high.

After passing the Malpas tunnel, you will arrive at a crucial point of the Canal du Midi: The 9 locks of Fonsérannes. But in truth, it is a single lock with 8 basins which allows the boats to descend 21 meters of vertical drop over 312 meters long.

Then you will pedal again to the lock of Villeneuve Lès Béziers.

Which hotel for the stopover in Béziers?

Here is a perfect Bed & Breakfast when you cycle the Canal du Midi and don't want to stray too far from the lock stage.

Canal du midi by bike from Béziers to Sète

This fourth and final section takes you to the shores of the Mediterranean. The 52 km route is done in 1 day of cycling and crosses sublime landscapes.

Section from Béziers to Sète

This day of cycling will follow a cycle path then paths that are sometimes a little less suitable. You will cross the Estagnol marshes, the friendly port of Cassafières, the Libron locks and the Saint-Joseph bridge.

After passing the town of Adge, you will have to follow the Hérault river through the lagoons of Bagnas.

Enjoy a well-deserved break at the Onglous lighthouse where nature is wild and unspoiled. This is where the Canal du Midi ends, which flows into the Etang de Thau next to Marseillan.

But, I recommend that you then follow the cycle path that goes to Sète along the beaches: a real pleasure!

Which hotel for the last stop in Sète?

For this last step, why not rent a guest room with a swimming pool?

Located in Mèze right next to Sète, La Maison de France offers friendly accommodation with a garden, terrace and swimming pool.

Canal du midi by bike in 4 days

The 4 one-day stages presented above form a route that experienced cyclists generally do in 4 days. However, I recommend that you allow 1 or 2 more days to do this route in vacation or family mode, without rushing and taking the time to sightsee at each stage.

Canal du midi by bike in 3 days

If you only have 3 days to travel the Canal du Midi and you want to do it all, I recommend this program:

• Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Bram (80 km)
• Canal du Midi from Bram to Le Somail (75 km)
• Canal du Midi from Somail to Sète (55 km)

Canal du midi by bike in 2 days

To enjoy the Canal du Midi for a weekend, you can combine in the sense that you want 2 day stages among the four presented above:

• Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Castelnaudary (54 km) +
• Canal du Midi from Castelnaudary to Puichéric (69 km)

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• Canal du Midi from Puichéric to Béziers (70 km)
• Canal du Midi from Béziers to Sète (52 km)

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• Canal du Midi from Castelnaudary to Puichéric (69 km)
• Canal du Midi from Puichéric to Béziers (70 km)