Immerse yourself in the history and beauty of the Canal du Midi
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Canal du Midi slips through magnificent landscapes from Toulouse to Sète. Formerly dedicated to the transport of goods, the Canal du Midi is now open to pleasure and leisure navigation.
Sailing on the Canal du Midi means sailing in a spirit of relaxation, at your own pace, in contact with nature while appreciating the sweetness of a sunny region and discovering the authenticity of an art of living.
Sweetness of life, authenticity and disconnection ...
Discover the Grand Bief
In this sector of the Grand Bief, 54 km long, without a lock, the Canal du Midi winds its way up the slope, above the plain. On land, it is appreciated along the towpath, popular with walkers or cyclists.
On the water, it is possible to do many activities, starting with navigation.
You can choose to pilot small electric boats or embark on a sightseeing boat and discover part of the Canal du Midi, for half a day or even a day. You can also rent for a weekend or a week, from March to October, a barge that can be piloted without any license!
As a couple, with family or with friends, sailing the canal is an unforgettable adventure!
If you are passing through, to comfortably enjoy the timeless charm of the Canal du Midi, staying on a hotel barge or a bed and breakfast barge is an unusual experience that you absolutely must live.
The Canal du Midi, in a few figures ...
- 14 years of work (1666 - 1680)
- 12 workers
- Length: 240 km
- Depth: 2,20 m
- Width: 20 to 24 m
- 63 locks
- 130 bridges
How to navigate the Canal du Midi
Which boat to rent to sail on the Canal du Midi?
- Houseboats without a license, for rent to navigate freely, for a week or a mini week.
- The guest house barges, to stay in an unusual place. Comfortable rooms. Mini cruises are sometimes possible.
- Hotel barges, welcome passengers on board for a multi-day canal cruise. Full board or half board. Different services on board, depending on the barges: bicycles available, guided tours of the hinterland, jacuzzis, massages, etc.
- Small boats without a license for rent for an hour, half a day or a day. They are electrically propelled or motorized depending on the length of the rental and the number of passengers.
- Boat trips, for guided tours of the Canal du Midi.
What are the other ways to travel the Canal du Midi?
By using the waterway, it is possible to connect Toulouse to Sète aboard all means of floating transport: canoe, kayak, rowing, paddle...
By bike, the towpath runs along the 240 km of towpath and allows you to take advantage of the Canal du Midi and the freshness that reigns there to admire the magnificent landscapes crossed by this structure.
Specialized agencies can help you prepare your trip and offer all-inclusive packages, but you can also contact us for advice on preparing your stay.
No permit required!
Average speed of movement: 8 km / h in navigation and 3 km / h in ports, when approaching and crossing bridges and locks, for crossing or overtaking other boats!
Discover boat rentals and rentals to navigate the Canal du Midi.
Stay on a boat?
Become a Captain for the duration of your stay and enjoy prestigious services during your romantic or family vacation by booking a guest house barge or hotel barge.
Discover it from the world of boatmen, at the quayside or on an excursion on the Canal du Midi, all with the comfort and elegance of real floating accommodation.
Stop in one of our ports...
The Port of Capestang
The port of Poilhes
An unmissable stop on the Canal du Midi, the port of Capestang welcomes you for an ideal stopover. The port is equipped with all services and you can also stock up on souvenirs and local products in the valance house which also houses the tourist office.
When approaching the port, you will have to cross the Saisse bridge, which has the particularity of being the Canal bridge with the narrowest passage… A little challenge for budding captains!
A true “nature” stopover! You will be seduced by this charming and bucolic little village for a peaceful and gastronomic stopover thanks to the various restaurants present on site, as well as its wine bar and its producers.
The port does not have all the services but is equipped with a 24-hour electronic payment terminal for replenishing water and electricity.
Live your best stopovers!
With family or friends, there are stopovers for everyone in our ports of Capestang or Poilhes ...
Check in at the harbor master's office and take advantage of your stopover to recharge your batteries, do some shopping and taste our local specialties!
THE UNAVOIDABLE
Self-guided tour of the village.
Visit of the Castle of the Archbishops of Narbonne. Visit of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Etienne.
ACTIVE STOPOVER
Bike ride along the Canal du Midi or on the greenway.
Electric motorcycle ride to discover the surroundings in a second breath of freedom. Paddle boarding on the Canal du Midi.
FAMILY / FRIENDS STOPOVER
Canal du Midi Track Game (Capestang). Shopping.
Time for a stopover to introduce your children to the Canal du Midi, its history and its little stories ...
DISCOVERY STOPOVER
Let our professionals guide you and discover our region from another angle!
GOURMET STOPOVER
Farmers' market (Wednesday and Sunday). Tasting and visit to a wine producer or to the Pays d'Ensérune cooperative cellar. Lunch or dinner in a restaurant.
UNUSUAL STOPOVER
Meeting with an artist in his studio.
Visit of the Post Barque or Fox Troc.
A question ? A demand ?
Contact the tourist office, our holiday advisers are at your disposal to guide you and compose your stay from the Canal du Midi to Saint-Chinian by phone or email.
By phone +33 (0) 4 67 37 85 29 (type 1)
