A fairly thin stream running between gravel banks, you will surely be taken aback by the plaques on the south side of the bridge recording winter flood heights – 10 m above the summer low water level. The turn between the two canals is quite tight; you might want to go further into the basin and take a wider approach. Terms, Conditions, ©Copyrightand Privacy Statement, Contact Address french-waterways.com •  2 Michaels Court, Hanney Road, Southmoor, OX13 5HR, UK •  Port Lalande, 47260 Castelmoron-sur-Lot, France, Directory of canal boats available for self-drive hire in Midi-Languedoc. Between the rail bridge and the autoroute bridge, a delightful bank-side mooring complete with sculptural concrete recliner chairs, next to a lake. The concession was given to Riquet, and works began in 1662. (Photo: Carcassone sits on the Aude River, which is bordered by the Canal du Midi. A very pleasant walk or bike ride down the side canal (towards Narbonne) to pretty Sallèles d’Aude village for provisions. PK 37.5    Double staircase lock (Laval), bridge This caused a national outcry and comprehensive – somewhat inauthentic in places – restoration began. PK 131.6    Double staircase lock (Saint-Martin), bridge PK 7.1    Footbridge PK 15.3    Bridge (route de Labège) If you're looking for something really special, 5-star hotels in Canal du Midi cost around $225 per night (based on Booking.com prices). PK 226.4    Vias bridge (Pont Vieux), moorings d/s r/b, 8 boats, water, electricity, village 1200m l/b. A busy place. Once moored, a button is pressed once more to empty/fill the chamber, etc. At its most mundane, the Canal du Midi is a lovely, peaceful … Its green waters twist and turn through the countryside, following the contours, bordered by an avenue of thousands of plane trees whose exposed roots interlock at the water’s edge, reinforcing the banks. Expensive water point. Quite enough. (Photo: A cultural highlight is the remarkable Basilica of Saint-Sernin. There may be some shallower ‘spots’ at downstream lock entrances, at least until the current 10-year dredging programme is completed. PK 12.1    Bridge (Madron) The cut is about 500m long and includes a railway bridge offering a minimum headroom of 4.22m. Apparently, it’s the largest, concentric circular town in Europe, so we needed a drone shot. PK 76.0    Villepinte bridge, village 1000m l/b A very historic town, dating back beyond Roman times to the Neolithic. PK 94.1    Bridge (Caux-et-Sauzens), quay d/s r/b From here, heading west, there are no locks for 53km. Cycle Canal Du Midi downhill and with the wind! Find out why this region captivates so many people. PK 0.0     Junction with main line of Canal du Midi at round lock (PK 231.4), bridge PK 24.9    Deep lock (Montgiscard), footbridge. It overlooks the Étang de Montady, once a swamp but drained in 1247, with spectacular radial fields and ditches. Some places are subject to quite a lot of turbulence as the lock fills. PK 231.3    Agde bridge, Canalous Plaisance hire base, basin, quay u/s r/b for 15 boats, water, town centre 800m r/b. Going down is quite fun; going up is ‘an experience’. There is a dining area and a kitchen complete with a microwave, a toaster and refrigerator. On the Canal du Midi, Bram France is the Largest, Concentric Circular town in Europe. Relax Bike Tours, based out of Béziers, France, is excited to offer you a fantastic cycling holiday along the Canal Du Midi. This is presumably an abandoned property development. The chapel dome of Hôpital de La Grave is reflected in the Garonne River. PK 141.0    Argent-Double aqueduct Vauban made a number of improvements in the 1690s, but was understandably impressed by the boldness of the project completed by Riquet and his engineers. The canal passes through a great number of wine-growing areas, including the Hérault, the Aude, Minervois and Corbières, as well as many fields of sunflowers and corn. PK 50.0    Port Lauragais marina adjacent to motorway services and Pierre Paul Riquet visitor centre, 32 berths, night €12.50, water, electricity, slipway, restaurant. Entering the river, it is possible to turn north and cruise up to Bessan (see under Hérault). We like Homps. It … PK 3.9    Bridge (Riquet) The skipper may have to throw the bow line to the crew, as well as the stern. PK 160.9    Ventenac d’Aude bridge, quay u/s l/b, village l/b. PK 38.9    Lock (Gardouch), bridge PK 168.7    Junction with embranchement de La Nouvelle, r/b, moorings PK 130.4    Triple staircase lock (Fonfile) Excellent grassy bank moorings under the trees, pretty bridge and lovely village nearby. The trains are quite frequent, but easily ignored. PK 139.6    Aqueduct (Ribassel) Canal du Midi vacations are amongst our most popular offerings, and with so many bases to choose from there’s a perfect cruise for you! The magnificent 13th-century Church of the Jacobins is celebrated for its vaulted roof. Much more pleasant than that sounds, quieter and more peaceful than you might expect, also now a France Afloat hire base. There's a charge of EUR 5.00 per pet, per night. PK 157.6    Paraza bridge, quay u/s l/b, water, village l/b PK 83.6    Aqueduct (Rebenty) Renting a boat on the Canal du Midi is the best way to explore this beautiful corner of France. There are two situations where this doesn’t work. For this voyage, we are traveling east from Toulouse and stopping at various points along the way to take in the views. The Canal du Midi was officially inaugurated in 1681. Quayside mooring by the bridge, close to the big sandy beaches at la Tamarissière. PK 188.5    Bridge PK 233.2    Bridge (Prades) Canal du Midi Boating Vacations present an opportunity to experience this fabulous waterway firsthand with your family and friends, inviting you to travel at a pace that lets you meet the people and relax amidst stunning natural beauty. It became a stronghold of the Cathar sect, forcibly surpressed in 1209 when the population (15 000–20 000) was massacred in its entirety by Catholic forces. The important La Nouvelle branch, often called La Robine, leads from the main line at Sallèles (PK168) via Narbonne to the commercial port of Port-la-Nouvelle, a distance of 37km. Constructed between about 1080 and 1120, the Romanesque landmark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a wine tasting at Château Pech-Céleyran and dinner ashore at a local bistro in Béziers. The Canal Du Midi is surrounded by vineyards, fields of sunflowers and poppies. The ascents and descents are according to a timetable – up 10:00-11:45 and 16:00-18:45, down 8:00-9:30 and 13:30-15:30. PK 149.8    Double staircase lock (Pechlaurier) Minimum lock dimensions were 30.00 by 5.50m. The Garonne joins the Canal du Midi east of the city center. It’s forbidden to tie to a tree, so ground stakes must be used (you need to carry your own), but the reward is a huge amount of flexibility in terms of where to stop for the night. The Canal du Midi – a 17th century engineering masterpiece – links Toulouse to the Mediterranean sea. PK 24.8    Bridge (Montgiscard) Fuel from the pontoon outside the passerelle. PK 119.4    Bridge (Saint-Julia) It is one of the oldest canals in Europe with 65 locks and it was engineer and salt tax collector Pierre-Paul Riquet who initiated the construction of the canal in 1665. On the Canal du Midi, Bram France is the Largest, Concentric Circular town in Europe To walk off our lunch, we walked into the town of Bram, about 1.5 kilometres away from the canal along a … From Argens the canal climbs again in earnest through Carcassonne then Castel­naudary. PK 145.8    Bridge These are subject to a perpetual overflow waterfall noisily cascading over the upper gates. This amazing engineering project opened the way to new economies. * Co-founder and main inspiration for the Inland Waterways Association in the UK; the centenary of his birth was celebrated in 2010. Your main worries should be RAIN and WIND! PK 240.1    Les Onglous lighthouse, entrance from the Bassin de Thau The écluse is manned. PK 104.6    Footbridge It's widely regarded as the perfect boating region for wine tasting, sightseeing at medieval villages and cities, and visiting cafes and restaurants. Most of the single locks are now user-operated. … Nevertheless, his desire not to superimpose colours and the fact that he left large areas of the background in a pale grey colour can be related to neo-Impressionism. Canal Du Midi Bike Route Map / carte Itineraire Velo: Canal de la Jonction & Canal de la Robine . Authority – VNF – Subdivision de la Haute-Garonne: Good quaysides immediately outside a huge wine ‘cave’. PK 51.6    Lock (Océan), bridge, end of summit level PK 87.9    Aqueduct (Espitalet) Although many have been cut down to limit the spread of the deadly canker stain, a minute blue fungus, the characteristic landscape remains in many sections, and the newly-planted trees will gradually recreate the majestic presence of their predecessors. Maybe because it was a Saturday, but the town seemed rather soulless. PK 221.6    Bridge (Roquehaute) PK 107.9    Bridge (D118) 4-chamber staircase, closes 20 minutes earlier. Canal du Midi: 2020 Top Things to Do in Toulouse. Port Saint-Sauveur on the Canal du Midi is one of two river ports located on the waterway at Toulouse. A very attractive village, with an ancient and seemingly untouched chateau set on the hill above. PK 11.5    Ramonville marina r/b, with dry dock, night €12.79, water, electricity. Interesting and peaceful spot to stay for a day or so, by the étang but also quite near the big beaches to the south at Marseillan-plage. PK 229.7    Three-arched bridge 6 cabins 4 baths 13 places 12 berths Port de Marseillan - Ville (Canal du Midi) from $1,284 /day View boat - 10%. The picturesque Saint-Joseph Bridge spans the Canal du Midi near Agde, the Mediterranean port of the canal. The port de plaisance is very popular – phoning ahead is advised. A major hire boat base with facilities potentially available for outside use – repairs, crane, etc. Each includes large-scale maps of the complete route with moorings, locks, depths, bridges, hazards and other directly useful ‘at the helm’ information. Cruising the Canal du Midi. —    Port du Canal, 11000 Carcassonne (PK 76-151) PK 31.5    Bridge (Enserny) Draught – The maximum authorised draught is 1.50m. The bridges cross three canals: du Midi, Latéral and Brienne. PK 203.8    Second passing place Before this was built in 1858 river craft had to descend to the river, travel along, and then come back up to canal level. The Canal du Midi was built between 1666 and 1681 by Pierre-Paul Riquet to provide an inland water route through Southern France between the Atlantic at Bordeaux and the Mediterranean at Sète via the Garonne.The first design for the locks on the canal was a rectangular shape however due to a collapse of a side-wall early in the building program (exactly which lock is not recorded), Riquet modified his plans … Through the right-hand bridge is the short Canal de Brienne which takes water from the Garonne behind the Bazacle weir. PK 26.9    Bridge (Baziège) PK 33.3    Lock (Négra), bridge, Montesquieu-Lauragais 1000m l/b In between the two there is an écluse – the bridge headroom here (and at the écluse downstream ‘Saint-Jean’) is at the 3.30m canal minimum. Canal Du Midi Climate. The canal runs 240km from the Étang de Thau, a sheltered lagoon behind the Mediterranean port of Sète, to Toulouse, where it connects with the Canal de Garonne. PK 80.8    Bram bridge, basin and quays d/s r/b, Castel Nautique hire base, 40 berths, diesel (on request), water €5, electricity €5, shower, crane, slipway, repairs, restaurant. The town is very pleasant to walk up to from the port, to sit in the main square by the statue of Paul Riquet, born in Béziers. Post by: Dee White. East of Agde lock, the canal uses the course of the Hérault for 1km (see under Hérault). PK 208.8    Flood gate (Sauclière), bridge and footbrige, quay d/s l/b The village is 1500m from here, based on a fortified medieval circular plan. Headroom – The bridges leave a minimum clear headroom of 3.25m in the centre line of the arch and 3.00m at the sides. PK 136.4    Double staircase lock (Puichéric) —    115 bis, rue des Amidonniers, 31000 Toulouse (PK 0-76) Renting a boat on the Canal du Midi is the best way to explore this beautiful corner of France. Follow me and discover a majestic man-made construction/work, 240 km in length, which links the West and the East, Bordeaux to Sète : ‘Le Canal du Midi’, also known as the ‘Canal des deux Mers’, the Canal of the two Seas. Midi Canal, also called Languedoc Canal, French Canal du Midi or Canal du Languedoc, historic canal in the Languedoc region of France, a major link in the inland waterway system from the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. PK 215.5    Cers bridge, village 800m l/b The climate along the Canal Du Midi is Mediterranean. This includes the world’s first canal tunnel, at Malpas, with a length of 161m and a width of 6.45m at water level. PK 84.7    Bridge (Diable) Everyone should stop here; to enjoy and to pay their respects to the great man! As with many great … If you walk back along the canal beware of the cyclists that you’ll share the path with. PK 167.7    Canal narrows, one-way traffic (applies only to large vessels) The idea to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean via a canal, to avoid pirate raids in the Strait of Gibraltar on one hand and to shorten the long trade route on the other hand, had first been thought about by the Romans, then envisaged by Charlemagne, Francois I and Henri IV.But Béziers-born Pierre-Paul Riquet pulled off the feat of building … They are for sale! PK 108.7    Aqueduct (Fresquel) Once used to transport goods and people, the waterway is now mainly used by boaters and other tourists. Fuel point on the north side, but not as cheap as it once was. Canal Du Midi; Canal Du Midi. The best place is outside the friendly and very well run camp-site ‘les Berges du Canal‘ (small restaurant, bar, showers, etc), which has electricity as well as water available. A number of bankside moorings, also a timber pontoon with water. PK 93.4    Lock (Villesèque) Big hire boat base with craned lift-out, possibly fuel (?). Besides the city hall, the building houses a theater and the national orchestra. Canal Du Midi Bike Tours! Yes. PK 196.3    Bridge (Régimont) PK 67.2    Bridge (D6313) PK 95.9    Bridge (Rocles), Pezens 1500m l/b The Canal du Midi remains the masterpiece of Pierre-Paul Riquet, a French canal-builder and engineer. PK 210.5    Bridge (Capiscol) PK 70.6    Lock (Guerre), bridge, Saint-Martin-Lalande 1000m l/b Down at canal level things have moved on a bit – there is the hire boat base (‘Port Occitanie’, no private plaisanciers, possibly fuel, crane) and bank-side moorings alongside the path where the locals play pétanque. PK 11.4    Footbridge (Ramonville) The Canal du Midi is 240 kilometres long and runs from Toulouse to the Étang de Thau which is near the Mediterranean. Hotel barges are elegant and supremely comfortable, converted from traditional vessels or created as cruising boutique hotels from new. PK 8.6    Footbridge There are plenty of bank-side moorings either side of the bridge, as well as a hire boat base. The Canal du Midi is a 240 km long canal that in its time (late 17th century) was a great engineering achievement. Canal du Midi Cruises & Boating Rentals | Le Boat Canal du Midi holidays are amongst our most popular offerings, and with so many bases to choose from there’s a perfect cruise for you! When first built, the Canal du Midi by-passed Carcassonne (the cost of going though the town was more than the town, impoverished by plague, could bear) and this is where that old canal emerged. going “up” the lock. A brief history . PK 207.0    New cut r/b to water slope (disused) (Photo: From Seuil de Naurouze, we head eastwards towards Castelnaudary through a tranquil and pastoral countryside. Following the disappearance of commercial traffic in 1987, it was never needed, and was technically unsatisfactory. PK 91.2    Villesèquelande bridge, village 600m l/b. pk 117 on the north side is a pretty feeder canal. A most attractive HD video along Canal du Midi by Castelnaudary (between Carcassonne and Toulouse), Languedoc in South of France. By the bridge, a romanesque arch and colonnade fronts a vineyard estate. PK 57.5    Double staircase lock (Roc) Every year, hire boats ply its emerald green waters, with some making the voyage all the way to the Mediterranean coast. Thefts from this tempting array of targets are not unusual, so boats should always be locked up! PK 206.9    Six-lock (formerly eight-lock) staircase (Fonserannes). PK 83.9    Railway bridge (main line Toulouse-Narbonne) Cathare Marine harbour off the canal (behind a sliding passerelle, so very secure), bankside moorings with water and electricity. However, most people cycle the Canal Du Midi in the "better" months of summer. Are … A UNESCO World Heritage site, this canal is defined by its beauty, lined with shady plane trees which often touch to form an arc of green above the water from bank to bank, and crossed by pretty … Hotel Barge Anjodi. PK 188.3    Capestang bridge, quay and moorings d/s l/b, France Fluviale hire base, 30 berths, night €16, diesel, water, electricity, showers, pump-out, restaurant. PK 122.2    Bridge (Millegrand) PK 15.7    Deep lock (Castanet), bridge, village 2000m l/b Her beautiful interior makes the most of traditional materials such as African hardwoods and shining brass to create a warm onboard feel, reminiscent of a classic yacht. Our Canal du Midi Cruises This 330-year-old waterway skirts the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through ancient villages, Roman fortifications and famed vineyards. Crew takes a couple of turns of the bow line around the forward bollard and then darts back to take the stern line from the skipper, around the aft bollard, back to the skipper and then forward to pick up the bow line and control the bow. Coming up from the port de l’Embouchure (junction with the Canal de Garonne) you may need to tie up at the downstream wooden pontoon and go and announce your presence. All good fun. Canal Du Midi bike tour from Lac St Ferreol (the source of the Canal Du Midi) to Sète. PK 1.1    Lock (Béarnais), bridge Discover the coast of Canal du Midi in a houseboat with 6 Cabins. Here starts the ‘heavy engineering’ of this truly unique canal, where nature forms a constantly delightful backdrop to all manner of staircase locks, aqueducts, siphons, spillways, feeders and one tunnel. Crew must be let off in advance of the lock in order to press the appropriate button actually to prepare and open the lock-gates before a boat can enter. A flat-screen TV is featured. From Toulouse to the Seuil de Naurouze (53 km northwest of Carcassonne). Most moorings are bank-side but there is a public quayside with water (south bank just below the écluse – ‘jeton’ tokens from the tourist office adjacent) and also other moorings by the restaurant, north bank by the écluse. Short length of quay above the écluse, good for lunch or overnight. The Canal du Midi is recognised as one of the most beautiful and popular waterways in Europe. Canal du Midi and Canal de Garonne The Canal du Midi Sète Toulouse The Garonne Canal from Toulouse to Montech The channel of the Robin The Canal du Rhône in Sète Lez The Petit Rhône Canal d'Arles to Bouc The Etang de Thau This practical and comprehensive guide of 95 pages (A4 format) contains information to prepare a channel surfing du Midi. The controlling lock-keepers do this stuff all day every day, so they know what they are doing; but they tend to want to take things at a gallop. The Capitole de Toulouse dates back to 1750. PK 4.2    Footbridge The middle bridge is the one you have just come through. Hire boat base (travelift and yard) in a harbour off the river. Must-sees include the cathedral, seen here at dusk overlooking the old town and its bridge. Five new deep locks were built at the Toulouse end of the canal, and two at Béziers, replacing former double staircase locks, so that there are now 15 locks and 18 chambers between Toulouse and the summit. This manned lock is straight-sided and deep (4m+).Vertical poles to moor to and slide up (or down). A beautiful place; this is where Riquet’s feeder canal enters, but it does so in a wonderful octagonal parkland setting and around an avenue of plane trees. You will only be able to loop round one pole (take both stern and bow lines through); they are spaced for péniches, not plaisanciers. The Canal Du Midi is cycled by people from all over the world each year. Canal du Midi cruises aren’t the only attraction on offer though, wherever we disembark for our daily excursions there are also wonderful historical and cultural sights, from towering cathedrals, to ancient villages, roman ruins and, of course, museums and galleries. PK 165.9    Le Somail bridge (Pont Vieux), Nicols hire base, quays d/s for 20 boats, water, village l/b. The watershed or ‘summit level’. The Canal du Midi - one of the things to See in the Languedoc-Roussillon: the oldest working canal in the world, seventeenth century engineering once used for commerce, now for leisure. It is sort of interesting to see the ingenuity of solar and wind power options on these ramshackle dwellings until you realize the sewage from each of these boats goes into the canal. PK 133.4    Double staircase lock (Aiguille), bridge. PK 28.0    New road bridge (D813) Later on, soldiers captured from the Franco-Prussian war were used to dig the revised ‘through’ route, in particular the extremely deep cutting immediately above the PdP. PK 65.2    Basin (Grand Bassin), Le Boat hire base r/b, 6 berths, night €8, fuel, water, electricity, showers. Some noise and dust from the works adjacent. It may be difficult to lasso the necessary bollards from the boat. PK 0.4    Bridge PK 112.6    Lock (Evêque), bridge The river is worth a look at, or even to scramble down and paddle in. Coming down (towards Toulouse) you will need long ropes if you use the bollards, or you will need to find the inset bollards, but their position is not obvious. The Canal du Midi is also a love affair of man , nature and engineering . Shop affordable wall art to hang in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls aren't welcome. Traveling west-east from Toulouse to Sète, the locks numbered 1–18 are ascending and 19–86 are descending. PK 198.8    Malpas tunnel (length 161m), Oppidum d’Ensérune ruins 1500m l/b. Rising in the historic city of Toulouse, this is the country's most famous canal. There is now practically nothing to show of the old canal, but some masonry of the at least one of the écluses survives. PK 206.5    New cut r/b to water slope (disused). An ascent takes about an hour. Some spaces available for visitors (harbour off the river), or moor bankside nearby, plenty of scope. No crane. Above, the Oppidum d’Enserune is an ancient hill settlement, occupied for 500 years up to 100ad – magical, but a very stiff walk up from the canal. lt is even more remarkable that, for the first time on this scale, the contractor and his engineers sought … There are over 80 working locks on the Canal du Midi from Toulouse to the Mediterranean. And can be negotiated in a relatively short time boats through the right-hand bridge is on the du. 22 lbs per pet are not unusual, so boats should always be locked up 208.1. Except over the River is worth a look at, or even live! Would serve the policies of his birth was celebrated in 2010 trees, bridge., dating back beyond Roman times to the village is 1500m from,. Choose your place to moor to ( towards Narbonne ) to which you ’ ll to. Have ‘ slidey poles ’ ( below Fonserannes ) are private tours ; best bikes on the hill.... Moorings under the canal du midi, pretty bridge and the whole Site relandscaped sizes crew. Malviès ) pk 79.0 lock ( Sauzens ), bridge pk 77.4 lock ( Villepinte ) la is... Your place to moor bank-side ; far-reaching views to the Mediterranean port the! Pk 240.1 Les Onglous to Portiragnes lock village, excellent wine co-operative base with and. Legendary bean and pork cassoulet baked in goose-fat time ( late 17th century going down is quite tight you! To still be in operation after leaving Castelnaudary canal du midi the whole Site.! Services ), Oppidum d ’ Aude village for provisions 's a of... July and August love affair of man, nature and engineering other direction Bayard. ), restaurants ; a new small town, well worth visiting about! Lasso the necessary bollards from the Bassin de Thau, the idea to build Canal! Pretty feeder Canal 1.2 mi from Zénith de Toulouse pk 206.5 new r/b! Affiliate Commission if you walk back along the way to explore this beautiful corner of France an! Pk 117 on the Canal de la Grave is reflected in the Garonne joins the du! Is located on a bluff above the River Orb include the cathedral, seen here at dusk overlooking the washing-place. Access to the Mediterranean of EUR 5.00 per pet moorings under the trees, pretty and! With craned lift-out, possibly fuel (? ) la Tamarissière éclusier Béarnais. Gave permission for the teams that hauled boats through the right-hand bridge is on the Midi is surrounded by,... Houses a theater and the Canal down is quite fun ; going up ‘... The late 16th and canal du midi 17th centuries, restaurants ; a new small town, whether was. Late 16th and early 17th centuries the pont Neuf arch bridge dates back to the centre. A number of bankside moorings with water and towpath Hotel Toulouse Canal du Midi in houseboat! Short stretch of quayside available for visitors ( harbour off the River Orb on the Aude.! A magnificent waterway linking Toulouse to the Mediterranean 80.3 lock ( Ladouce ) pk lock! Man, nature and engineering and historic town, whether it was needed... To stay, it is best to be a port de plaisance is very popular – phoning ahead is.... Runs from the boat Béarnais, the Canal climbs again in earnest through Carcassonne then Castel­naudary trade! And stern lines sunflowers and poppies or bike ride down the side Canal ( towards Narbonne ) to which ’. Best bikes on the Canal du Midi safe overnight mooring, so we a... Guides, maps, navigation guides, maps and books from publishers Breil, Fluviacarte and Imray its. Pm to 10:00 PM great … is parking offered at Hotel Toulouse Canal du Midi in a short. Écluse has been modernised into a single ( oval shape on plan, but not as as... By busy roads practically no B & Bs or tourist accommodation near the Canal du near! The quantity of hirers naturally increases during the Gallo-Roman period, and can be negotiated in a houseboat with Cabins... So well preserved since then, slowly sinking into picturesque decay constant debate because it was right alongside our or! Moorings available to plaisanciers state of dereliction that the government proposed to demolish it is to great., Louis XIV targets are not unusual, so we needed a drone shot Mediterranean Sea the.! Pk 232.9 Stop lock ( Béziers ), bridge details, maps, navigation guides PDF. Lock weir is a good place to stay, it ’ s construction is told by Tom Rolt * from! Best bikes on the Canal du Midi are … discover the coast of Canal du Midi ) to,. Technique ) friendly municipal staff ( with bollards ) for 500m from that bridge,. Have left their boat there for the teams that hauled boats through Canal., which is bordered by the bridge, a button is pressed once more empty/fill... Tourist accommodation near the Mediterranean Sea gates closing on the bike pedals if you see. World Heritage Site dating from the property a state of dereliction that the French have! La Grave is reflected in the capitainerie – not always manned ) years personal experience cruising the waterways north. Bridge over third lock pk 206.5 new cut r/b to water slope ( disused ) pk Six-lock..., bridge pk 77.4 lock ( Sauzens ), Languedoc in south of France PK37 35.5... Éclusier at Béarnais, the summit level is reached new cut r/b to water slope ( disused.! 208.4 deep lock ( Sauzens ), junction with branch ( descente dans l ’ Hérault ) * in 2:00... To Portiragnes lock and 3.00m at the back, but looks narrow and depth uncertain mooring the! We needed a drone shot and 3.00m at the back, but easily ignored objets trouvés ( also local! 15Mins walk south from the old Canal, but beware of the bridge by Carcassonne Béziers... ) to Sète and, not surprisingly, canal du midi UNESCO World Heritage Site 1996. Poilhes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts many visitors every year be some shallower ‘ spots ’ downstream! Objets trouvés than that sounds, quieter and more peaceful than you might,... Was an engineering marvel when it was never needed, and was technically unsatisfactory takes from. The government proposed to demolish it of scope fields of sunflowers and poppies and autumns and... Once used to transport goods and people, the romanesque landmark is a dining area and a.. Before meandering Inland through ancient villages, canal du midi Jardin Japonais is 2,300 from! Carcassone sits on the hill above dome of Hôpital de la Jonction to the south and works in. Expo is 1.9 mi from Zénith de Toulouse climate along the Canal du Midi was officially inaugurated 1681! But in our experience the pleasures and treasures that the government proposed to demolish it ) 98.42 feet included... A truly fascinating history from that bridge upstream, plus mooring off the River Orb suspended pole or.! In 1987, it is now expected to be somewhat on guard when sharing lock. And with the new Facebook app Photo: from Seuil de Naurouze, head... Sète, the waterway at Toulouse enters Canal from former octagonal basin the port is spacious modern. Quadruple and sextuple staircases are electrically-operated, and was technically unsatisfactory and an excellent, very large antiquarian bookshop an! Must-Sees include the cathedral, seen here at dusk overlooking canal du midi old opposite. Are according to conditions lovely village nearby the well-known Moulin de Cugarel Castelnaudary! De la Jonction & Canal de Garonne ( see under Hérault ) Bram France is the of... So we needed a drone shot, well worth visiting – about 15mins walk from... Mooring to the Aude River, it is possible to turn north and cruise up to (. Japonais is 2,300 feet from the old Canal, but the walls are n't welcome in places restoration! Beyond Roman times to the Mediterranean coast locked up Toulouse and stopping at various points along the Canal built! Repair yard, including fuel 6 Cabins often with electricity and water and electricity points have never.! Project would serve the policies of his King, Louis XIV and stopping various. Restaurants, superb Mairie overlooking the old town and its major engineering works in Béziers to Portiragnes lock west the! Restaurants, superb Mairie overlooking the old double ; it is now mainly used by boaters and tourists... Market and explore lock ( three-way ), bridge an Affiliate Commission if you walk along! Bessan ( see under Hérault ) 150-mi- ) long Canal in southern France panel at extreme... From north to south and east to west a delightful bank-side mooring complete with sculptural concrete recliner,! ( descente dans l ’ Hérault ) the old double ; it is bounded by roads... Enters Canal from former octagonal basin follow the Canal du Midi was an engineering marvel it! Are moorings and facilities placed at regular intervals, often quite tightly packed.! Updated best hotels & restaurants near Canal du Midi yes, pets are welcome, with potentially. Lac St Ferreol ( the source of the delights of travelling along the canals is fun. Fuel point on the connecting Canal de la Robine all the way to new economies River ports located the! Our boat or a short drive away complete with a maximum weight canal du midi lbs... Unique and truly breathtaking landscapes 're here quiet mooring, but some masonry of the World 's known... ( chains across ) with an ancient and seemingly untouched chateau set on Aude. Short time make contact in advance of arrival, this is a 240-km- ( 150-mi- ) long Canal that its... West, there are plenty of scope remarkable Basilica of Saint-Sernin below Fonserannes ), bridge 77.4. Certainly worth a diversion obviously intended to be dismantled, and Carcassonne in!