Le Canal Des Deux Mers on Vélostevie

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 10 - Heading home

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

To get myself back home, I had myself booked on an early train from Béziers to Paris. I aimed to get to Paris early so that I could explore and then enjoy good food in the evening. The following day, I would be getting the Eurostar back to the UK.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 9 - 46 km from Gruissan to Béziers

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The final leg of the trip. I took my time in the morning, and paid a visit to the pink salt ponds at Gruissan before making my way along the cost for most of the route back to Béziers where I was planning to catch a train back to Paris.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 8 - 19 km from Narbonne to Gruissan

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

When I was planning the route, I was in the mood to get from Narbonne to the coast as quickly as possible and follow the coast to Béziers. In my research I discovered that the move Betty Blue (37.2 degrés le matin) had been filmed at Gruissan. I remembered the seemingly idyllic setting on the beach with wooden houses on stilts and decided that I should stay there.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 7 - 69 km from Carcassonne to Narbonne

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This stage followed the canal initially, but instead of staying on the canal through to Béziers, it is a detour into the hills and vineyards approaching Narbonne. I had been told that Narbonne is a beautiful city to visit, so I had planned to get myself there and have a day to explore.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 6 - 41 km from Castelnaudary to Carcassonne

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re following the Canal des Deux Mers, then an essential stop is the City of Carcassonne and its spectacular fortified city. There is such a lot to see up there that you really should keep a day set aside to take your time and explore.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 5 - 65 km from Toulouse to Castelnaudary

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The stretch of canal from Toulouse to Castelnaudary was a bit more exposed than more of the journey so far. I had been warned that there had been some disease in the poplar trees along this section and that a lot had been cut down to prevent spread of the disease. The surface was also a little bit rougher, but I was riding a gravel bike with reasonably fat tyres, so it was comfortable enough.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 4 - 62 km from Castelsarasin to Toulouse

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What a start to the day at Peniche GEMJO. I woke to find a table all to myself set on the deck. It was raining, but the deck was covered, so I enjoyed breakfast listening to the sound of rain falling on the canopy and watching it splash across the canal.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 1 - 74 km from Bordeaux to Langon

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

After enjoying a day exploring Bordeaux, this was a gentle start to the route. Crossing the river, the route doesn’t follow the river or canals. Instead, it follows the Piste Cyclable Roger Lapebie. This greenway was a railway track at some point in its past.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 2 - 80km from Langon to Sérignac-sur-Garonne

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

An essential stop on this leg was to visit the 12th century church of Saint Vincent in Le Mas d’Agenais. It is famed as the home of Rembrandt’s oil painting of a tormented Christ on the Cross.

Le Canal des Deux Mers à Vélo day 3 - 64km from Sérignac-sur-Garonne to Castelsarasin

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Today’s included a stop at the beautiful abbey at Moissac. It’s important to go around to the back of the church and go inside the cloisters; they’re gorgeous.