The majestic Canal du Midi ranks among the most beautiful waterways not just in France, but anywhere in the world. The 17th-century canal connecting the Atlantic and the Mediterranean attracts visitors year after year for a Canal du Midi cruise. But beyond a cruise on the canal, there are so many things to do on the Canal du Midi – thousands enjoy cycling along the towpath or exploring one of the attractions along the way.
The waterway measures 241km, a distance that offers plenty of scope and goes far beyond any single luxury Canal du Midi hotel barge cruise. But to whet your appetite for the first of many return trips to the waterway, read on to discover our top picks for the best places to visit on a Canal du Midi cruise.
Pretty in pink – Toulouse
Depending on how you plan your Canal du Midi route, Toulouse could be your first or last port of call. The city makes a stunning start and triumphant end to Canal du Midi cruise destinations and is worthy of a full day visit while cruising, at least. Here, you can combine the old with the very new, enjoy some of the best food and wine tasting in France, and experience one of the most vibrant cities in the country.
La Ville Rose
Named La Ville Rose after its pink-orange terracotta bricks, Toulouse offers a long list of attractions. Don’t miss the central Place du Capitole, flanked by the city hall, dating back to the 12th century and home to some stunning ceiling and wall frescoes in the Salle des Illustres.
Visit one or all three of the Romanesque cathedrals – each as magnificent as the next – before you make your way down to the waterway. On the banks of the Garonne, Toulouse has city beaches whose skyline is crowned by the Dôme de la Grave, picture-perfect at sunset.
For a taste of the ultra-modern, head for La Cité d’Espace, home to cutting-edge space technology and a Martian meteorite. Or if planes are your thing, visit the Aerospace quarters, home to not one but two of the supersonic Concorde planes.
Surprising facts about the Canal du Midi
- The brainchild of Pierre-Paul Riquet, born at Beziers, one of the Canal du Midi towns.
- The canal came to fruition in 1666 when King Louis XIV approved the project.
- The 241km of waterway – the longest navigable man made canal in France – took no less than 15 years to build.
- Riquet died before its completion, ruined after spending his considerable fortune on the endeavour.
- In 1996, the Canal du Midi received UNESCO World Heritage status.
King of cassoulet – Castelnaudary
The next on our list of places to visit on a Canal du Midi cruise takes us to the site of the inauguration of the canal in 1681: Castelnaudary. This important town centers around a large harbor, once a thriving port for trade along the canal.
Today it is most famous for cassoulet, a hearty stew made from white haricot beans, duck and Toulouse sausage. Named after the earthenware pot used to cook it in, cassoulet takes center stage during the last weekend in August when the town celebrates its signature dish. Concerts, walking races and boating fun are enjoyed by thousands who also feast on the 40,000 cassoulets prepared over the two days.
Things to look out for at Castelnaudary
Occupying seven hectares, the Grand Bassin at Castelnaudary is the largest stretch of open water on the canal and a highlight of canal boat and barge trips in France. Just outside the basin you’ll find the Écluse de Saint Roch, the first of 63 locks along the Canal du Midi. It has four chambers and once housed five windmills on the left bank.
Queen of citadels – Carcassonne
When it comes to Canal du Midi cruise destinations, Carcassonne needs no introduction. With its hilltop location and over 2km of ramparts dotted with 53 towers, the largest citadel in Europe counts as one of the main highlights on the Canal. It’s also one of France’s most spectacular UNESCO world heritage sites.
Visiting La Cité is a must – get the best view from the Pont Vieux at the foot of the hill and walk up through the Porte d’Aude to see the citadel frontage in all its glory. While you’re inside the medieval maze of cobbled streets, don’t miss the Chateau Comtal with some of the best views from the walls.
Time your visit for July or August to catch one of the 100 concerts at the Festival de Carcassonne, one of the biggest cultural events in France.
Back down at Canal du Midi level, explore the lower ville baisse in Carcassonne, packed with boutiques, cafés and stunning churches. The central Place Carnot has a morning food market, perfect for trying the excellent local produce before you head back to the canal.
Treat yourself to some of the best views of Carcassonne from the saddle as you experience Canal du Midi cycling before heading back to your boat or barge.
More facts about the Canal du Midi
- Digging out 241km across often challenging terrain was no mean feat and unsurprisingly, it required 12,000 workers.
- They also created 63 locks and 55 aqueducts – keep an eye out for these from on board your Canal du Midi hotel barge cruise.
- The Canal du Midi is famed the world over for its treescapes formed by giant planes and oaks that flank the canal on either side. Some 45,000 were originally planted with many still surviving today and a huge replanting scheme under way.
World of books – Le Somail
Slightly hidden on the Canal du Midi map, the village of Le Somail comes with several surprises including an icehouse, bookshop and floating deli. It’s one of several villages built by Riquet to promote commerce along the canal and Le Somail was a popular overnight stop for barge drivers and their teams.
Today, it makes a very pleasant sojourn on a Canal du Midi cruise. Don’t miss Le Trouve Tout du Livre, a bookshop home to more than 50,000 tomes that rivals the largest in any capital city. Plus it’s something of a treasure trove for first editions.
If you’re on a self-drive cruise, be sure to stock up on foodie treats at Tamata, a floating delicatessen barge selling local produce and wine.
Medieval marvel – Capestang
Another gem among Canal du Midi villages, Capestang, dates from medieval times and is famous for its low arch stone bridge standing proud over the Canal.
Time your visit to coincide with the twice weekly market (Wednesdays and Sundays) when local farmers bring out their local produce.
Things to look out for at Capestang
When it was built, the Canal du Midi set precedents for many engineering feats and Capestang is home to one of them. The Malpas Tunnel, excavated into the hill d’Ensérune, was the first navigable canal tunnel in Europe.
It took eight days to dig out and runs 165m through the rock with a height and width of 8m. It’s classed as one of the Canal du Midi works of art.
Secret French Riviera – Narbonne
Once you leave Capestang on your way to the Mediterranean, you may wish to branch off along the Canal Robine to visit Narbonne. Narbo, as the Romans christened it when they arrived in 118AD, is one of the must-see places to visit on a Canal du Midi cruise.
The compact city packs in the sights, many of which are terracotta, like Toulouse. Top of the list is the cathedral with a lofty Gothic choir, cloister and little else. Despite the 41m-high ceiling, the cathedral never grew beyond a quarter of its original size.
But the true jewel in the crown lies south on the Mediterranean on the Narbonnaise Natural Park, a protected paradise of lagoons, salt pans, vineyards and no less than 50km of sandy beaches. Even better, they’re much quieter than those on the Riviera, but be prepared for strong sea breezes.
Home to Riquet – Béziers
If your trip continues along the Canal du Midi proper rather than sidetracking to Narbonne, your next stop will be Béziers. Not only is the cliff top town one of the most picturesque places to visit on a Canal du Midi cruise, Béziers was the birthplace of Riquet, the genius behind the Canal’s creation.
It has Roman roots and a chequered past that includes being completely razed to the ground in the Crusades against the Cathars. Today, highlights include the St Nazaire Cathedral that sits atop the cliff overlooking the River Orb. Wander the cobbled streets and alleyways on your way up for some of the best views of the Canal du Midi. Back at water level, Le Pont Vieux over the Orb is yet another picture-perfect bridge.
Then, for something completely different, Béziers draws on its Spanish roots for its annual Feria in August. The action includes bullfights, flamenco dancing and typical Spanish fair festivities that last long into the night and attract the crowds in their thousands. Olé!
What to spot in Béziers on a Canal du Midi cruise
This section of the canal includes two of the most amazing engineering feats you’ll see on barge trips in France:
- Fonserannes lock is unique in size and scope. It contains eight chambers and nine lock gates in total, making it the equivalent of a watery staircase taking boats up or down a 21.5m gradient over a total distance of 300m. Fittingly, Béziers celebrates the annual Rendez-vous aux 9 Écluses between April and October with a packed calendar of events based next to the nine locks.
- Béziers is also home to one of the most impressive Pont Canal in France. Crossing the River Orb, the canal bridge rises 12m high as it runs over the Orb for 240 metres. Don’t miss the views over the Languedoc countryside and up and downstream the River Orb as you glide majestically over the top.
Med on the horizon – Agde
With the smell of salt in the air, you approach one of the last places to visit on a Canal du Midi cruise. Agde sits on the River Herault and ranks among the prettiest villages in France. You’ll find black volcanic rock façades lining the streets and a commanding cathedral on the river bank.
A more natural attraction lies on the coast at Cap d’Agde, home to some of the best beaches in this part of southern France and a large naturist resort catering for up to 50,000 tourists au naturelle.
Things to look out for at Agde
Back on the canal and Agde includes two engineering highlights worthy of mention:
- Round Lock (Écluse Ronde), made of volcanic rock, acts as a crossroads for three waterways: the Canal du Midi itself as well as River Herault and the River Canalet.
- Look out also for the Ouvrages du Libron, unique on French canals. The River Libron and the Canal du Midi lie practically at the same level and the Libron’s tendency to flood means an aqueduct isn’t a practical solution. Instead the Ouvrages divide the Libron in two to allow the Canal du Midi to pass through the centre.
Water, water everywhere – Sête
Last but not least in our list of things to do on the Canal du Midi, we reach Sête, a town perched almost on an island between Thau Lagoon and the Mediterranean in the south of France. Like Le Somail, Sête was built at the same time as the Canal du Midi and in this case, to serve as an outlet for the canal to the sea.
It’s a busy working port even today and home to seafood farming (mussel and oyster beds line the lagoon) and a sizeable fishing fleet. The Canal Royal joins the lagoon to the Mediterranean in the final stretch of the 241km of the Canal du Midi.
Yet more fascinating facts about the Canal du Midi
- The Canal was originally built for commerce use and until 1980 was a major route for transporting grain, wine, silk and textiles between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
- Since then, it has become a top destination for French canal holidays – thousands of boats make their way up or down the waterway to enjoy this unique waterways in Languedoc.
Like other canals and rivers catering for barge trips in France, the Canal du Midi offers different options for visitors. For a hands-off holiday and complete relaxation, take a hotel barge and leave everything in the hands of the crew. All you have to do is sit back, relax and soak up the delights of the Canal du Midi from the deck of a luxury hotel barge. Choose yours here.
If you’re more hands-on and like the idea of doing the navigation and piloting yourself, then Canal du Midi boat hire is for you. A range of options are available and you get to choose your route and how long you take to get there. Take a look at self-hire boats on the Canal du Midi here.
If you fancy a discovery trip in your own boat, and many do, you can read all about it here.
Looking for further inspiration?
- Where to go hotel barging in France
- Where to go hotel barging in Burgundy
- Where to go hotel barging in Aquitaine
- Where to go hotel barging in Alsace
- Things to do in Provence
- Download our free Canal du Midi Guide
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