The Fonseranes locks (Béziers)
55 km from the gîtes, the Fonseranes locks in Béziers are the most spectacular canal site in the Hérault. Nine successive chambers lift boats over a 21-metre rise. Parking, a museum and a visitor trail on site.
50 km from the gîtes · UNESCO World Heritage · Hérault
The Canal du Midi, a 17th-century masterpiece an hour from our gîtes
The Canal du Midi links Toulouse to the Mediterranean over 240 km. Built in the 17th century by Pierre-Paul Riquet, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its locks, century-old plane trees and river cruises make it an unmissable destination, about 50 km from La Bergerie du Mas Delon.
50 km from the gîtes
240 km of waterway
UNESCO World Heritage
Cruises and cycling
50 kmfrom La Bergerie du Mas Delon
1681canal opened under Louis XIV
UNESCOWorld Heritage since 1996
240 kmfrom Toulouse to the Mediterranean
The Canal du Midi, a masterpiece of classical engineering
Building a canal linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean across the Languedoc: that was the dream of Pierre-Paul Riquet, an entrepreneur from Béziers who convinced Louis XIV to fund this colossal 17th-century project. Opened in 1681, the canal is a feat of hydraulic engineering, with its 65 locks, tunnels and aqueducts.
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, the Canal du Midi is today a leisure waterway, a shaded cycle path beneath century-old plane trees and one of the most popular river-tourism destinations in France.
📷 Christian Ferrer — CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
How to enjoy the Canal du Midi from the Salagou?
Several ways to discover the Canal du Midi in half a day or a full day.
River cruise from Béziers or Agde
Operators run cruises on the Canal du Midi departing from Béziers and Agde. One-hour, half-day or full-day cruises. An ideal way to see the canal and its locks from the water, in the shade of the plane trees.
A bike ride
The cycle path running alongside the Canal du Midi (a greenway) lets you ride in the shade of the plane trees for dozens of kilometres. The stretch between Colombiers and Béziers is especially pleasant. Bike hire is available along the route.
The Malpas tunnel
The Malpas tunnel, 50 km from the gîtes near Ensérune, is Europe's first navigable canal tunnel (1679). 165 metres long, it carries the canal beneath the Ensérune hill. The Iberian oppidum of Ensérune, at the top, offers an exceptional view.
Capestang and the Montady lagoon
The canal skirts the former lagoon of Montady, a geographical curiosity: a medieval irrigation wheel left a star-shaped pattern of fields still perfectly visible from the heights. The village of Capestang, on the canal bank, is a pleasant place for a meal.
Agde and Le Grau-d'Agde
50 km from the gîtes, Agde is where the Canal du Midi meets the Hérault river and the sea. The black city (volcanic basalt) and Le Grau-d'Agde round off a particularly full canal-plus-beach day.
Frequently asked questions about the Canal du Midi
How far is the Canal du Midi from La Bergerie du Mas Delon?
The Canal du Midi can be reached from about 50 km from the gîtes, notably at Agde, Béziers (the Fonseranes locks) or Colombiers. The closest access point is around Agde (50 km).
Can you cycle along the Canal du Midi?
Yes, the Canal du Midi cycle path lets you ride alongside the canal for dozens of kilometres, in the shade of century-old plane trees. It is one of the most popular bike rides in France.
Can you take a cruise on the Canal du Midi?
Yes, several operators run river cruises from Béziers, Agde and other boarding points. Cruises from one hour to a full day let you discover the canal and its locks from the water.
A stay at the Salagou, gateway to the Canal du Midi
La Bergerie du Mas Delon, 50 km from the Canal du Midi and 4 km from Lake Salagou. Two great water heritages to explore from a single base in the Hérault.