Association
Fran¨aise
de dˇveloppement des Véloroutes et Voies Vertes
de dˇveloppement des Véloroutes et Voies Vertes
Guidebook
for cyclists published by Association Vélo
|
|
|
Association
Fran¨aise de dˇveloppement des Véloroutes et Voies Vertes |
| Guidebook
for cyclists published by Association Vélo |
||
By bike
along the Canal du Midi, the "rigoles" and the Canal de la Robine 
par J. Savary et J. Boiveau
13th edition entirely revised and now in colour, June 2008
A useful guidebook for cyclists.
A greenway from Toulouse to the Mediterranean
The Canal du Midi was built in the 17th century in order to transport merchandise,
but today it is used only by tourists. There are numerous beautiful examples
of fine engineering: oval locks (with flower-covered lock-keepers’ houses),
stone canal-bridges over rivers…
There is a towpath that can be ridden all the way by bike, and it is usually
shaded by tall trees. It offers a safe 280km cycle tour from Toulouse to Sète.
Only 20% of the trail is asphalted, and the rest has a hard earth surface. It
is therefore best to travel when the ground is dry. We recommend that you use
a good, tough bike, so ATBs or hybrids are ideal.
The canal links the agricultural Lauragais plains to the wine-growing regions
of the Aude and the Herault, and continues to the sea. You will go through hot
sunny villages, and visit beautiful old towns and cities: Toulouse (called the
pink town because of its old brick buildings), Carcassonne (famous for its medieval
citadel), Beziers (on its promontory overlooking the canal-bridge over the River
Orb), Agde (a town that was founded by the Ancient Greeks), and Sète
(a busy harbour on the edge of the Thau lake).
Of course, you will also find time to enjoy the cooking of the South of France
and taste the fine local wines (which include Corbières). There are numerous
good restaurants along the canal and in the surrounding towns.
The tour is flat, safe and easy, so it is ideal for families. It takes 4 to
7 days by bike.
Trains
Your bike can travel with you on many trains from Toulouse to Sète. See
the information in the guidebook for cyclists.
Organized
Tours
There is a tour operator that can make life even easier. Your reservations are
made for you, and your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel.
Contact: La Bicyclette Verte, 36 route de St-Hilaire, 79210 Arçais France.
Tel: 33 (0)5 49 35 42 56. Site: www.bicyclette-verte.com
More informations about the trip, and the guidebook:
by: Association Vélo
Information: http://toulousevelo.free.fr
See the page: Guides de balades
Guidebook for cyclists
The Association Vélo has published the « Guide n°1
A vélo le long du canal du Midi, des rigoles et du canal de la Robine ».
This little book contains all the practical information you need to prepare
your bike tour: advice, addresses, distances, trains that can carry bikes, bike-rental
shops, and all the lodging facilities along the canal (campsites, youth hostels
and gîtes, hotels, bed and breakfast).
To buy a copy, write
to:
Association Vélo, 5 Avenue F. Collignon, 31200 Toulouse, France.
Tel: 33 (0)5 34 30 94 18.
How
to buy the Guide n°1 by post Sales by the Association Vélo
(you will receive the guide at home, sent by post):
Country of destination / Price (including postage cost) / Payment mode
France / 8,64 € / Check
Europe / 11 € / Check on French bank, or post coupons*
Hors Europe / 12,50
€ /
Check on French bank, or post coupons*
* international reply coupons, which are sold on post offices-
Sale on the Web : www.cartovelo.com (useful for sales to foreign customers)
On that Web site, go to : "Cartes & guides"
We
recommand the foreign cyclists to buy the guide trough that Web site
 |
 |