Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi
4
Bodies of WaterPoints of Interest & Landmarks
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
A 360-km network of canals linking the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
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  • Sharon M
    Lymington, United Kingdom108 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful short boat trip
    A lovely 45 minute boat trip along the Canal du Midi. The scenery was beautiful, going through the locks and listening to the commentary (English and French) . The history of the canal was explained with some facts and figures, which was very interesting. We went at the end of September and the boat was not very full, so plenty of room. Took some wonderful photos.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 3 October 2023
  • marriott946
    London, United Kingdom817 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Booring Journey
    Our ride lasted around 4 hours. The section we did was extremely boring. High banks either side gave no view at all and it was extremely busy getting through the seven locks. Many delays. No wildlife or birdlife to see or hear. There was that much boat traffic the canal was a total muddy brown colour. We had a meal on the boat which I'm sorry to say was tasteless. Pleasant company but nothing else.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 19 October 2023
  • hydrojoe
    Ottawa, Canada279 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Short sail on Canal du Midi
    The Canal du Midi started construction stared in the 1600s and was part of a project to connect and provide navigation from Narbonne on eastern coast of France to Bordeau and the Atlantic sea on the western end. While in Carcassonne, one of the touristy thing to do is take a short ride on a river boat and sail a portion of the canal waterway. A guide on board will give you a quick history of the construction. You will also get a glimpse of the Medieval fortified city in Carcassonne.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 February 2024
  • AussieClogwog
    Perth, Australia107 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Canal du Midi - Highly Recommended Cycling tour Toulouse to Sete
    We embarked on a very pleasurable holiday adventure, organised by French Bike Tours, traversing picturesque landscapes with splendid hire bicycles from Le Petit Cyclo—one standard, the other electric. Each day began with a delightful buffet breakfast, setting the perfect tone for our explorations. Our journey commenced in the stunning 'La Ville Rose' of Toulouse, where a great cycle path guided us to our first destination, the charming town of Castelnaudary, with its ‘Grand Bassin’ and our accommodation the enchanting old judges' residency, "Les Ordalies". Despite encountering a shift to dirt roads and gravel on the second day, the scenic canal, majestic plane trees, and idyllic countryside vistas more than compensated for the rough terrain. A short detour led us to the circular village of Bram, where we meandered through its quaint streets to reach the historic church. Our day culminated in the UNESCO-listed city of Carcassonne, where we had time to tour the medieval castle and enjoyed dinner at 'La Place de Vieille Ville'. One of the highlights was enjoying breakfast outside on the terrace of Hotel du Chateau, looking up to the walled city. Despite grappling with challenging headwinds and the sad sight of plane trees stumps the following day, we anticipate returning in fifty years to cycle beneath the replanted oak trees. Our route led us to the small town of Olonzac for the night, where we were warmly welcomed. Post-Olonzac, the cycle path significantly improved, albeit with occasional detours due to ongoing path work. The ancient city of Breziers greeted us with a decent along its nine impressive locks with views to the picturesque River Orb below. Perched atop a small hill, Breziers has charming streets with numerous terraces, and the Saint-Nazaire Cathedral is certainly worth a visit. The final leg of our journey was a leisurely cycle ride into Sete, with a substantial portion of the route tracing the coastline, offering ample opportunities to pause for refreshments at seaside terraces. Despite a slight detour prompted by the arrival of the Olympic torch, we arrived promptly at our hotel, the charming and eccentric Le Grand Hotel, where we would be staying for the next two nights. With an extra day in Sete, amidst rain showers, we were able to relax, unwind and reflect, on our unforgettable cycling tour. Five stars to French Bike Tours for the flawless organisation.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 June 2024
  • 13gary13
    Northwich, United Kingdom119 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Canal trip
    A relaxing trip, nothing special on route to be honest..depends on which boat you travel...My choice was the offer of a picnic on route. The stop off for the picnic was an old cottage. It was lovely...They prepared your basket with your chosen baguette, a choice of starters, gazpacho or melon. Served in a little clip lock jar..ice cubes in another for your chosen drink...
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 August 2024
  • Eucryphia
    London, United Kingdom39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Easy canal-side cycling
    We last visited many many years ago before the trees were devastated by disease. It is good to see so many new trees that have been planted and in years to come it will only get better. We had memories of getting stuck in the mud of the tow path when cycling, but now the cycle track is mainly gravel and easy to ride. We cycled near Trebes, Puichéric and Homps. Cyclists and walkers are friendly and always say hello as you pass by. Lovely place.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 September 2024
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,120 reviews
Excellent
569
Very good
290
Average
122
Poor
74
Terrible
65

Georgina1Gillett
Newcastle, Australia17 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
Le boat cancellation experience- beware!
My husband and I were looking forward to a boating holiday on the Canal Du MIDI with a boat hire from Le Boat. Unfortunately more than 12 weeks prior I lost my job and my new job could not realise me for holidays (we are Australian so getting to France is not something we can do in a short get away) so we needed cancel. I contacted Le Boat and was asked to put my request in writing which I did explaining our hardship and requesting some consideration on the $1500 deposit we were about to loose. Given it was over 12 weeks notice, I felt some kind of deposit refund or even a credit to use at a later date might be reasonably considered. Le Boat management refused any reasonable consideration and retained our entire deposit. Please be aware of this mercenary business approach when booking. I found the company to be highly unreasonable and unhelpful in this situation.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

weji13
Colbert, GA92 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
We have gone on quite a few barge trips in France. We've carefully picked barges based upon great ratings and the size of the barge (20 or less passengers). We were quite happy with the barge (not reviewing the barge here), but Canal du Midi itself was not all it was cracked up to be.

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. 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. The next issue is that, compared to other rivers and canals in France, apart from the two photos you always see of the Canal du Midi, the greatest portion of the canal is actually pretty dreary.

Regardless of the place we stay in France, it seems like we always have a wonderful time. However, compared to so many other places in France, I would not recommend this destination.
Written 8 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janene H
14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
Fabulous day trip on the canal du midi. My husband and I had planned a canal trip with friends from NZ as part of our European 40th wedding anniversary however when they could not join us we were pleased to find a day option with Kate and Ferdie - wonderful hosts who shared their knowledge of the canal, history and love of living locally there along with the ins and outs of navigating a boat. We did the 6 hour option from Capestang to the 9 Fonserannes Locks at Beziers - so interesting to see the locks being navigated. There was plenty of time to sit leisurely on deck chairs at the front of the boat, champagne in hand and watch the countryside idle by and a delicious home-made 3 course meal was served on the way back up the canal. We stayed in a B&B in Capestang and it was easy to meet up at the local
Tourist office to catch our ride. Kate corresponded well throughout our planning. Highly recommend this if you want a personal and exclusive experience in this beautiful part of France.
Written 13 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OnAir702055
Creston, IA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
Good morning CPT Mathias:
You are the pinnacle of canal barge experiences!
I hope to reiterate what an amazing trip we had with you onboard the “Esperance” on the Canal du Midi. My group presented to you a host of entanglements, and you and your amazing staff conquered each one thoroughly and with finesse, professionalism and creativity.
In short, you are the best!
Chef offered us beautifully presented meals that met the needs of my 96-yr-old father, as well as delighted the palates of us all; trip excursions were fun, presented at a pace that worked very well, and were exactly as we hoped.
The accommodations are amazing — spacious, pristine and comfortable. Never did we fear for our health or safety onboard or during the day trips.

Most Sincerely.
Jane L. , Iowa. July 2021
Written 2 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John H
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
We stopped in Villesequelande in 2022, saw signs that indicated there was a restaurant and market in town. We followed these signs, walking at least 25 minutes into town, only to find that the restaurant/market was still there, but no longer in business.

We ended up wasting almost an hour walking in the hot sun. False Advertising!!!
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard S
Baltimore, MD8 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
I rented a bicycle and trailer in Toulouse from Paulette Bike and cycled from Toulouse to Sète in five days in late March 2023. The bike path is undergoing renovation, so the path was a lot of dug up mud. There were bulldozers and backhoes and many detours along the way. The dried bulldozer tracks made a very bumpy ride. The parts of the path that were recently renovated and finished were filled in with gravel, which was slippery and dangerous for bicycles. Despite being careful, I fell twice in the gravel. The path is not well marked with signs, so at some bridges, it is unclear if the main path is on the right or left of the canal. It is easy to take the wrong path. I wish I had paid more attention to a previous review that said the path is rough and hard to negotiate. I would have planned a bicycle trip elsewhere. It was not a pleasurable experience.
Written 10 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain22,915 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Canal du Midi is a water channel built in 17th Century in the south of France, in Occitanie Region. This water channe links Toulouse and Seté, a Mediterranean town in the SOuth-East of France. In fact, this channel and Garonne channel are united to go from Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea in the oldest water channel in Europe. Nowadays, it is a tourist place, where you can walk, cycle, relax or go by boat in a lot of kilometres. Really, it was a very big engineering work and nowadays it is a pleasure place. IAlso, if you follow the channel, you can see few bars and restaurants, some ports (Castelnaudary or Carcassonne, for example), towns or different locks (in Beziers, there are the 9 locks, a very nice place), and almost always you are surrounded by nature. It is not so beautiful, but it is very large, I would like to do a fantastic hike follow all Canal du Midí and you can see this wonderful engineering work. Really very interesting for children and elders (cycle, walk, do a pique-nique, play, relax, go a boat, learn about this engineering work,, etc.) and for adults (cycle, run, hike, or do a lot of sport, etc). I hope return here some days and do a big hike or cycle!
Written 21 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AussieClogwog
Perth, Australia107 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
We embarked on a very pleasurable holiday adventure, organised by French Bike Tours, traversing picturesque landscapes with splendid hire bicycles from Le Petit Cyclo—one standard, the other electric. Each day began with a delightful buffet breakfast, setting the perfect tone for our explorations. Our journey commenced in the stunning 'La Ville Rose' of Toulouse, where a great cycle path guided us to our first destination, the charming town of Castelnaudary, with its ‘Grand Bassin’ and our accommodation the enchanting old judges' residency, "Les Ordalies". Despite encountering a shift to dirt roads and gravel on the second day, the scenic canal, majestic plane trees, and idyllic countryside vistas more than compensated for the rough terrain. A short detour led us to the circular village of Bram, where we meandered through its quaint streets to reach the historic church. Our day culminated in the UNESCO-listed city of Carcassonne, where we had time to tour the medieval castle and enjoyed dinner at 'La Place de Vieille Ville'. One of the highlights was enjoying breakfast outside on the terrace of Hotel du Chateau, looking up to the walled city. Despite grappling with challenging headwinds and the sad sight of plane trees stumps the following day, we anticipate returning in fifty years to cycle beneath the replanted oak trees. Our route led us to the small town of Olonzac for the night, where we were warmly welcomed. Post-Olonzac, the cycle path significantly improved, albeit with occasional detours due to ongoing path work. The ancient city of Breziers greeted us with a decent along its nine impressive locks with views to the picturesque River Orb below. Perched atop a small hill, Breziers has charming streets with numerous terraces, and the Saint-Nazaire Cathedral is certainly worth a visit. The final leg of our journey was a leisurely cycle ride into Sete, with a substantial portion of the route tracing the coastline, offering ample opportunities to pause for refreshments at seaside terraces. Despite a slight detour prompted by the arrival of the Olympic torch, we arrived promptly at our hotel, the charming and eccentric Le Grand Hotel, where we would be staying for the next two nights. With an extra day in Sete, amidst rain showers, we were able to relax, unwind and reflect, on our unforgettable cycling tour. Five stars to French Bike Tours for the flawless organisation.
Written 2 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

243ainen
galway, Ireland24 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
Spent a fortnight on a rented boat on the Canal du Midi. Environmental issues on the canal were a disappointment. Witnessed a fish kill from Capestang westwards for about 6km. Authorities need to act now to prevent effluent from boats & agriculture from causing further damage. Old ways of doing things are not working.
Some lovely villages and very helpful locals. Lovely food in Columbier & Vias (ville).
Sundays are very quiet so be sure to have stocked up on essentials (many local supermarkets shut).
Written 17 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

carolcalinoff
Vail, CO5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
This is more than 5 star. Mathias, the owner of the barge has done an unbelievable job of decorating this special barge. The food prepared by Veronique was the best we have had, ever. It was good quality, beautifully prepared, and creative. Everything was just perfect. If there is something special you want, just tell them. Chloe did an amazing job of decorating the tables for each meal. Victor was our captain and did a great job getting is through the locks. Our driver, Emerich, took us by Mercedes van to all of our trips. He was knowledgeable and gracious. The staff was there to entire time to assist and inform. It's one of the few barges with a hot tub. You have your choice on all meals on board or some in local towns. We thought it would be cool to enjoy dinner in local towns. Don't do it. Stay on board for dinner every night. No restaurant comes close to Veronique's cooking.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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CANAL DU MIDI (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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