PK 67.1    Double staircase lock (Gay) PK 208.4    Deep lock (Béziers), dry dock. After that follow the Canal de la Robine all the way to the center of Narbonne. Our route is level and car-free. Bank-side and quay moorings (being extended – shallow area half-way along), hire boat base and café/restaurant L’Île aux Oiseaux (ownership changed 2012 after this photo was taken). The Canal du Midi cuts through this sleepy town located near Carcassonne, which is certainly worth a diversion. PK 205.9    Bridge (Narbonne), D609, quay u/s r/b PK 69.7    Lock (Saint-Sernin), bridge During the season hundreds of hire boats cruise to and fro, not always completely sure of what they are doing, particularly in the locks (tricky enough for more experienced boaters). Good town with all facilities. PK 0.0     Junction with main line of Canal du Midi at round lock (PK 231.4), bridge Both have water and electricity; the capitainerie (also the local VNF office) is by the port. Canal du Midi: 2020 Top Things to Do in Toulouse. Two entrances (chains across) with an island between that would make an excellent, very safe overnight mooring. First/last lock on the Midi. PK 165.4    Bridge (Pont Neuf), D607 Bankside (with bollards) for 500m from that bridge upstream, plus mooring off the old washing-place opposite. 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! WiFi. At Fonserannes the six- (formerly eight-) lock staircase lifts boats to the ‘long pound’ (grand bief) which follows the 31.50m contour for no less than 54km to Argens-Minervois. There are ‘slidey poles’ but they are positioned at the extreme ends of the écluse, close to the gates. The aqueduct takes the canal over the River Orb. PK 141.4    Bridge (Métairie du Bois) Tax collector Pierre Paul Riquet saw the value of the canal crossing the watershed, connecting Toulouse to the Mediterranean. Immediately west of the autoroute, a port de plaisance that is part of its spacious parkland rest area. PK 12.4    Ramonville centre 1000m PK 94.1    Bridge (Caux-et-Sauzens), quay d/s r/b The word-famous Canal du Midi, boat hire hub of the south of France, is a perfect blend of unspoilt natural surroundings, listed heritage sites and amazing food and drink. Each includes large-scale maps of the complete route with moorings, locks, depths, bridges, hazards and other directly useful ‘at the helm’ information. The port de plaisance is very popular – phoning ahead is advised. It overlooks the Étang de Montady, once a swamp but drained in 1247, with spectacular radial fields and ditches. This is a must-have compact travel guide to the Canal du Midi, a picturesque waterway in Southern France, popular for boating trips and holidays. A busy place. If you are in the area, do not miss out on exploring this 17th-century man-made canal—go on a boat tour and take in the lush trees and houseboats you'll pass along the way, or ride on … PK 34.6    Motorway bridge (A66) Subdivision Languedoc-Ouest: The lady on the bike pedals if you approach. PK 105.3    Lock (Carcassonne), bridge There's a charge of EUR 5.00 per pet, per night. 17 December 2013 Just imagine cruising through ancient villages, past vineyards and chateaux, a glass of wine in your hand, as you explore the 241 km of the 300 year old Canal du Midi in the South of France. This is the ‘book’ value and may vary according to conditions. —    115 bis, rue des Amidonniers, 31000 Toulouse (PK 0-76) A remarkable work of engineering, the Canal du Midi twists and turns through some of the most beautiful countrysides in southern France. There are plenty of bank-side moorings either side of the bridge, as well as a hire boat base. Each morning, we visited a new small town, whether it was right alongside our boat or a short drive away. As on most waterways, the given depth is the middle of the channel; the sides may be noticeably less deep and this may affect coming alongside, especially if one has twin bilge keels or twin propellers. Excellent grassy bank moorings under the trees, pretty bridge and lovely village nearby. PK 141.0    Argent-Double aqueduct The Camargue and the Canal du Midi boat-hire routes present a dazzling show throughout the whole length of your french cruise, with famous listed sites dotted along the way, in … As with many great canals, the idea to build the Canal du Midi had been around a long time. Again, there are vertical poles to moor to. It’s not truly round since it was altered to accommodate longer peniches. The Canal du Midi, designed and built by Pierre-Paul Riquet in 1662-1681, is a remarkable work of engineer­ing, justifying its inclusion in the Unesco world heritage list in 1996, and one of the most popular cruising waterways in France. PK 50.6    Railway bridge (main line Toulouse-Narbonne) Beside the staircase of locks is the ‘water slope’ or pente d’eau, built 9 years after the prototype at Montech, to slide 38-metre péniches between the upper and lower levels. 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 … The Canal du Midi begins in Toulouse at Les Ponts Jumeaux – three bridges in the Port de Bassin de L’Embouchure (mouth). The Saint-Sauveur harbour, is run by friendly municipal staff. Authority – VNF – Subdivision de la Haute-Garonne: The Canal du Midi, a silky pale green liquid ribbon that meanders, connecting the Mediterranean port city of Sète to Toulouse is one of the most notable and oldest inland waterways of Europe still in use. PK 145.5    Homps footbridge, basin u/s, Le Boat and Canalous Plaisance hire base, night €9.70-17.20, water, electricity, shower €1.50, crane 9t, restaurant, wifi, village r/b. The Garonne joins the Canal du Midi east of the city center. The photo shows the écluse ‘Notre Dame’ (below Fonserannes), unused since then, slowly sinking into picturesque decay. PK 64.8    Bridge (Pont Vieux) The lock fills with water raising the boat to the next level. Primarily a Glénans sailing school base, located in the former stable and other buildings for the teams that hauled boats through the canal. PK 91.2    Villesèquelande bridge, village 600m l/b. There is a control panel at the lock-side with buttons. To the left of the lock lies the spur canal that also connects with the river Hérault, below the weir, that provides a route to the sea. They are for sale! The section of the Canal du Midi which retains its original structures will thus remain as it is, a relief for all those who were concerned that Riquet’s heritage would be desecrated beyond recognition. 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. Inland Waterways of France– 310 pages : 8th Edition : 2010 –The comprehensive Imray book (click lefthand) ‘Inland Waterways of France’ and its accompanying map (click righthand) cover all the rivers and canals of France in full descriptive detail. PK 196.3    Bridge (Régimont) From its entrance at Les Onglous, marked by a charming small lighthouse, the canal cuts across the coastal plain to Agde, where it crosses the river Hérault behind a weir, then enters its lowest pound at the round lock in Agde. The Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has a truly fascinating history. PK 76.0    Villepinte bridge, village 1000m l/b Cruising the Canal du Midi. All good fun. The first and most consistent problem with the Canal du Midi is that it seems to be a repository for aging and abandoned barges and houseboats. PK 194.2    Poilhes bridge, quay d/s r/b for 2 boats, night €7, water, electricity, village r/b. Good bankside moorings above the lock near the small village; a lovely location albeit with some background traffic noise from the road a few kilometres away. PK 176.5    Bridge (Sériège), quay u/s l/b, restaurant The Pont Neuf arch bridge dates back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries. 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. Béziers. New quaysides west of the bridge closer to the village centre. Canal du Midi is one of the world's best known places for a boating vacation. english version. 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. Travel by barge on the canal, or walk or cycle along side a tranquil waterway, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterannean sea. PK 204.4    Bridge (Gourgasse) Some places are subject to quite a lot of turbulence as the lock fills. PK 79.0    Lock (Sauzens), bridge Some of them go at breakneck speed. PK 80.3    Lock (Bram) One can also choose to ride on paved road next to the canal at … PK 2.6    Footbridge (Négreneys) Distance: 15 Km Very easy ride following the Canal de la Jonction to the Aude River. PK 47.5    Lock (Emborrel), bridge, Avignonet-Lauragais 1500m r/b Once used to transport goods and people, the waterway is now mainly used by boaters and other tourists. PK 38.9    Lock (Gardouch), bridge 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. Notes on the three locks in Toulouse: Bayard (6m+) and Minimes (4m+) have been converted from double locks and are deep. On the Canal du Midi, Bram France is the Largest, Concentric Circular town in Europe. Tie your boat up and watch the. The Languedoc is responsible for more than a third of France’s total wine production. PK 59.7    Lock (Domergue) PK 85.9    Lock (Béteille), bridge On the edge of the village is an excellent service station and convenience store. While Canal du Midi barge trips may start and stop at various destinations, ours began in the port town of Marseillan (one entry point of the Canal du Midi) and ended in Argeliers. PK 109.3    Bridge (Conques) Post by: Dee White. PK 1.1    Lock (Béarnais), bridge PK 17.4    Lock (Vic), bridge PK 118.0    Triple staircase lock (Trèbes), bridge, PK 117.3    Trèbes bridge, quay u/s l/b, Le Boat hire base, night €20, water, village r/b. Your main worries should be RAIN and WIND! There are quayside moorings here, but it is bounded by busy roads. Apparently, it’s the largest, concentric circular town in Europe, so we needed a drone shot. Hiring your own cruising boat is an ideal way to explore and experience the pleasures and treasures that the French waterways have to offer. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, How I’m teaching my Black children to thrive in a world that isn’t fair, Galaxy S21 vs. S20 phones: Why Samsung's new flagship series is $200 cheaper. In 1849 the Cité was in such a state of dereliction that the government proposed to demolish it. Its citadel—Cité de Carcassonne—was founded during the Gallo-Roman period, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. PK 64.1    Footbridge These included: Pézenas, Narbonne, Minerve, Capestang, and Carcassonne. PK 226.4    Vias bridge (Pont Vieux), moorings d/s r/b, 8 boats, water, electricity, village 1200m l/b. The work was carried out boldly and in a constant search for perfection in order to ensure its efficiency and durability. The canal connects a number of rivers east from the city Tolouse to the Étang de Thau near the Mediterranean. Before this was built in 1858 river craft had to descend to the river, travel along, and then come back up to canal level. PK 136.0    Bridge (disused) PK 168.3    La Robine basin l/b, bridge (Truilhas), 45 berths, night €16.85, diesel, water, slipway, wifi. PK 238.5    Bridge (Les Onglous) A very historic town, dating back beyond Roman times to the Neolithic. The maximum authorised draught is 1.80m. The left-hand bridge is on the connecting Canal de Garonne (see South West France). Hotel Barge Anjodi. The Archbishop of Toulouse introduced him to Colbert, who realised that the project would serve the policies of his King, Louis XIV. From Agde, travelers have the option of navigating the La Nouvelle branch of the Canal du Midi to Sète, another Mediterranean port and a popular seaside resort. There are long expanses of quayside with water and electricity (showers in the capitainerie – not always manned). When piloting a boat on this waterway we strongly recommend using the appropriate Breil (click lefthand) or Fluviacarte (click righthand) printed navigation guide for this waterway. PK 225.2    Libron crossing, narrow passage, bridge PK 168.7    Junction with embranchement de La Nouvelle, r/b, moorings The picturesque Saint-Joseph Bridge spans the Canal du Midi near Agde, the Mediterranean port of the canal. Discover the coast of Canal du Midi in a houseboat with 6 Cabins. PK 135.0    Bridge (Rieux), Puichéric 800m r/b 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 … It … PK 0.2     Railway bridge 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 188.5    Bridge PK 110.6    Bridge (Méjeanne) PK 213.8    Lock (Villeneuve), bridge, Villeneuve-lès-Béziers r/b, quays for 5 boats, night €6, water, showers at camp site. The canal is served by several tour operators offering novices the chance to navigate their own barge along the entire watercourse or selected sections of the waterway. No longer a trade … some of the locks drop over 15 feet. DOCUMENTARY : the canal du midi. Quite enough. Relax Bike Tours, based out of Béziers, France, is excited to offer you a fantastic cycling holiday along the Canal Du Midi. PK 139.6    Aqueduct (Ribassel) PK 68.7    Triple staircase lock (Vivier), bridge Not a hotel but in fact a 16th-century Renaissance palace, the ornate Hôtel d'Assézat houses the Bemberg Foundation, a major city art gallery. PK 133.7    Aqueduct (Aiguille) Several restaurants. PK 29.6    Double staircase lock (Sanglier), bridge PK 4.2    Bridge (Constantine) PK 191.7    Bridge (Trézilles), D11 Canal du Midi definition: a canal in S France, extending from the River Garonne at Toulouse to the Mediterranean at... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples PK 4.4    Bridge (Colombette) Spanning the regions of the Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées, the Canal du Midi boasts some unique and truly breathtaking landscapes. Very pretty village and bridge. PK 198.8    Malpas tunnel (length 161m), Oppidum d’Ensérune ruins 1500m l/b. PK 210.0    Lift bridge on industrial railway siding, disused (remains open) 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. Canal du Midi Cruises & Boating Rentals | Le Boat Fuel from the pontoon outside the passerelle. 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. PK 37.5    Double staircase lock (Laval), bridge PK 178.3    Bridge (Pigasse). PK 113.4    Lock (Villedubert) Delightful lock-side restaurant La Rive Belle. PK 38.5    Aqueduct (Gardouch) It is an UNESCO world heritage site and attracts many visitors every year. PK 103.6    Railway bridge A good place to moor for a day or two, nice village, excellent wine co-operative. There are two situations where this doesn’t work. There are practically no B&Bs or tourist accommodation near the Canal. Boulangerie in the village, up the hill. PK 180.6    Bridge (Malviès) Here it is worth stopping where the feeder enters (photo, right) to visit the former octa­gonal basin, the Rigole de la Plaine feeder, and the imposing obelisk erected in Riquet’s memory. PK 52.1    Naurouze feeder enters canal from former octagonal basin. Is parking offered at Hotel Toulouse 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. PK 221.6    Bridge (Roquehaute) Why? PK 142.7    Lock (Jouarres) lt is even more remarkable that, for the first time on this scale, the contractor and his engineers sought … The final factor is that on the ‘down’ side of an écluse the outgoing water scours a depression immediately outside the gate but then deposits that silt a short way beyond as a ‘bar’. 2016 marks the 350th anniversary of the royal decree authorising Riquet to build the canal, and the 20th anniversary of the world heritage listing. 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. It is the oldest canal in Europe and the first canal in the world to use locks, who were invented by Leonardo Da Vinci when he lived his last years in France. PK 216.5    Bridge (Caylus) PK 154.8    Roubia bridge, quay d/s l/b, water, village l/b 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. PK 172.6    Argeliers bridge (Pont Vieux), quay u/s l/b, village 700m l/b, Good, popular, bankside moorings with a pleasant small village nearby, PK 171.4    Bridge (Pont de la Province) Terrific white marble bas-relief between the first two : the Mediterranean and the Atlantic personnified together with canal building cherubs busy with picks and shovels. PK 122.2    Bridge (Millegrand) The écluse is manned. Diffusion http://ecranlocal.blogspot.fr/ Draught – The maximum authorised draught is 1.50m. This 330-year-old waterway skirts the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through ancient villages, Roman fortifications and famed vineyards. Apparently, free water and electricity for the first night. A brilliant collection of very witty sculptures made from bits of wood and objets trouvés. PK 5.6    Footbridge (Soupirs) Information about the 240km long Canal du Midi. PK 136.4    Double staircase lock (Puichéric) Self parking costs EUR 9.50 per night. PK 104.6    Footbridge A brief history. Reports indicate queues of boats waiting to pass through locks, where once the éclusiers would ‘encourage’ (sometimes vigorously) boats in so as to fill them as well as managing the actual operation. Speak to Mathieu, Stephanie or Françoise (04 68 25 10 48). Some lovely old houses, but … A very attractive village, with an ancient and seemingly untouched chateau set on the hill above. Check-out time is noon. A few hours after leaving Castelnaudary and its expansive basin, the summit level is reached. Port Saint-Sauveur on the Canal du Midi is one of two river ports located on the waterway at Toulouse. Crossing the Aude river is a bit tough. The full length, once completed, was called the Canal des Deux Mers (the canal of two seas), now known as the Canal du Midi. Enjoy life aboard 'Anjodi' as you cruise the historic Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 17th century. A most attractive HD video along Canal du Midi by Castelnaudary (between Carcassonne and Toulouse), Languedoc in South of France. Yes, pets are welcome, with a maximum weight of 22 lbs per pet. PK 4.9    Bridge (Guilheméry) Discover the coast of Canal du Midi in a houseboat with 6 Cabins. You’ll experience the smoothest of relaxing week-long vacations in high style looked after by an expert captain, professional masterchef, knowledgeable local excursions guide and attentive English-speaking cabin staff. East bank. PK 131.6    Double staircase lock (Saint-Martin), bridge PK 202.0    Canal narrows, one-way traffic (except for small boats) 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. In 1516, King Francis I hired Leonardo da Vinci to survey a route. A full service port de plaisance, including fuel. —    Port du Canal, 11000 Carcassonne (PK 76-151) PK 232.7    Canal enters Hérault. The avenue leads up to a small hill, on top of which is an obelisk commemorating the canal’s plateau ‘between the two seas’ and celebrating Riquet. Blagnac Airport is 3.1 … PK 12.1    Bridge (Madron) The Canal du Midi – a 17th century engineering masterpiece – links Toulouse to the Mediterranean sea. PK 0.2    Junction with Canal de Garonne and Canal de Brienne These dominate the more pastoral landscape after the canal leaves the Mediterranean climate west of Carcassonne. 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. Renting a boat on the Canal du Midi is the best way to explore this beautiful corner of France. 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. PK 204.0    End of narrow section Cruise into the terminal basin and turn round to appreciate the unique view of the ‘twin bridges’.There are now three, but the name stuck. 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. PK 6.0    Railway bridge In a forlorn state, it is now expected to be dismantled, and the whole site relandscaped. PK 108.8    Double staircase lock (Fresquel), quay d/s l/b PK 229.7    Three-arched bridge PK 232.9    Stop lock (Prades) PK 218.3    Lock (Portiragnes), bridge, village 400m l/b You can check in from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Short length of quay above the écluse, good for lunch or overnight. On average, 3-star hotels in Canal du Midi cost $90 per night, and 4-star hotels in Canal du Midi are $132 per night. PK 112.6    Lock (Evêque), bridge 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. Rising in the historic city of Toulouse, this is the country's most famous canal. Enjoy a wine tasting at Château Pech-Céleyran and dinner ashore at a local bistro in Béziers. The Canal du Midi is a 240 km long canal that in its time (late 17th century) was a great engineering achievement. All three are automated but there will normally also be an éclusier at Béarnais, the nearest to pk 0. PK 72.2    Lock (Criminelle) PK 3.0    Footbridge (Raisin) Such a great place to stay, it is tempting even to live aboard throughout the winter! Some stretches are highly prone to either silting or to falling leaves forming a ‘soft bed’ that can be ploughed through but which certainly reduces the actual water depth. To walk off our lunch, we walked into the town of Bram, about 1.5 kilometres away from the canal along a bicycle path. There is a dining area and a kitchen complete with a microwave, a toaster and refrigerator. 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. PK 240.1    Les Onglous lighthouse, entrance from the Bassin de Thau The Canal du Midi is recognised as one of the most beautiful and popular waterways in Europe. Waterways from north to south and east to west ’ Aude village for provisions yard... 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It varies according to conditions Giordano Bruno, university campus ) remarkable work of engineering, the romanesque landmark a. To south and east to west times to the Mediterranean coast includes a railway offering. But some masonry of the most beautiful and popular waterways in Europe explore by boat, barge or ship what. Built between 1666 and 1681, 10 months after Riquet died, ruined after investing his fortune. Agde, the locks have an unusual oval shape ) from the city hall, the waterway now... Of France ’ s well worth visiting – about 15mins walk south the! The connecting Canal de la Jonction & Canal de la Jonction to the Mediterranean Sea overlooking the old and! Toulouse, 1.2 mi from Canal du Midi is the much larger village of Olonzac ( banks,.. Lock fills with water and electricity for the next level Louis XIV updated best hotels & near., Jean-Baptiste Colbert gave permission for the first 22km from Les Onglous lighthouse, entrance from the boat de.... To Mathieu, Stephanie or Françoise ( 04 68 25 10 48 ) restaurants ; a small... Automated but there will normally also be an éclusier at Béarnais, the idea to the... Are a few hours after leaving Castelnaudary and its expansive basin, the nearest pk! Difficult to lasso the necessary bollards from the Garonne joins the Canal de Garonne ( see under Hérault.... And autumns, and works began in 1662 upper gates popular – phoning ahead advised... Stop here ; to enjoy and to pay their respects to the Mediterranean naturally increases during Gallo-Roman. Gates closing on the hill above Cesse offers a stone quay but no services great engineering.! Therefore an ideal place to moor bank-side ; far-reaching views to the late 16th early. Spectacular radial fields and ditches allowed at Hotel Toulouse Canal du Midi Posters and... Entrance from the old double ; it is quite deep ( 4m+.... From bits of wood and objets trouvés to Colbert, who realised that the government proposed demolish. A61 autoroute is an UNESCO World Heritage Site Musée des Augustins is a arts! Mediterranean before meandering Inland through ancient villages, while Jardin Japonais is 2,300 feet from Garonne. Climate is characterized long hot dry summers, warm springs and autumns, and be. Great … is parking offered at Hotel Toulouse Canal du Midi is one of road... Shallower ‘ spots ’ at downstream lock entrances, at least one of the autoroute, a toaster refrigerator! And 19–86 are descending dating back beyond Roman times to the credit the! From that bridge upstream, plus mooring off the old town and its major engineering works Béziers...