cruising route the Somail / Etang of Thau / Bellegarde

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Le Somail - Etang de Thau - Bellegarde - 169 Km - 15 Locks - 26 h of navigation - 7 Nights (1 week)

From Le Somail to Le Somail, 0 km, 0 Lock(s), 0 h of navigation

Stopover : Le Somail

Le Somail

In addition to its Hat-making Museum and its old bridge, Le Somail has 4 structures listed as historical monuments: the former icehouse, the chapel, the old guard building and the former inn.

From Le Somail to Colombiers, 35 km, 0 Lock(s), 4.7 h of navigation

Stopover : Le Somail > Capestang > Colombiers

Le Canal du Midi

The Canal du Midi is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The oppidum ofEnsérune

Located above the Malpas tunnel, the Oppidum d'Ensérune is an archaeological site where relics of the Greek, Celtic and Roman civilizations were discovered. There are still traces of the human occupation of this site from 800 B.C. through to the Christian era.

the Tunnel of Malpas

In fact there are 3 tunnels placed on top of each other: an underground culvert for draining the water from the Montady Lagoon, the SNCF rail tunnel, and at the top the passage of the Canal du Midi. A unique piece of work navigated by barge without a permit.

the Saint Chinian

From Colombiers to Port Cassafières, 22 km, 12 Lock(s), 5.3 h of navigation

Stopover : Colombiers > Béziers > Port Cassafières

Béziers

For a long time the French capital of table wine, this town features a historical center full of monuments: the Cathedral of Saint Nazaire, the Church of the Madeleine, and the Arena (seating 13,500), not forgetting the Feria (around the 15th August).

the Canal Bridge of Beziers

Built in 1856, this aqueduct allows the Orb river to be crossed in a barge. 198m in length and 8m wide, it is considered the most beautiful stone canal bridge of the 19th century.

the scale of Fonserannes

In order to descend from 20m and get back to the level of the Orb river, Paul Riquet, the designer of the Canal du Midi, constructed a ladder of 7 locks; one of the most impressive sections of the Canal du Midi.

the Natural Reserve of Roque-Haute

At more than 150ha in size, this reserve features more than 400 varieties of vegetable and 360 species of animal.

the Soupe d'ail at the Biterroise

From Port Cassafières to Sète, 32 km, 3 Lock(s), 4.9 h of navigation

Stopover : Port Cassafières > Agde > Marseillan > Sète

Agde

Without doubt one of the oldest towns in Fance, Agde was built around 700 B.C. There a still a few remnants of this period, including a bronze bust, which is now on display at the musum in Cap d'Agde.

Mèze

There are a few places of interest to discover in this old town dating from 600 B.C., with its fishing port at the edge of the Thau Lagoon: the Penitents' Chapel, the Church of Saint-Hilaire and the market buildings.

Sète

The birthplace of George Brassens, a fact celebrated by the museum dedicated to him, is located right between the Thau lagoon and the Mediterranean. Nautical jousting tournaments take place here from May to September.

the Round Lock of Agde

At the time of its construction at the crossing of the Hérault river and the Canal du Midi in 1680, this lock was a one of a kind piece of work.

the passage of Libron

For lack of relief, it was impossible to build an aqueduct at the crossing of the Libron river and the Canal du Midi. In 1857, it was decided to build a metal structure with sluice gates, allowing the waters of the Libron to pass in the case of flooding. This is a unique structure.

the Natural Reserve of Bagnas

This 600ha wetland is home to an exceptional range of fauna and flora: birds, reptiles, amphibians…

Volcanic cliffs

Explore the volcanic cliffs on a sensational walk along the coastal path offering spectacular views of the Grande Conque beach and the creeks formed by erosion.

the Picpoul de Pinet

the Bourride à l'Agathoise

the Bouillabaisse à la Sétoise

the Oysters from Bouzigues

the Sete Beach

the Mèze Beach

the Marseillan Beach

the Bouzigues Beach

From Sète to La Grande Motte, 34 km, 0 Lock(s), 4.5 h of navigation

Stopover : Sète > Frontignan > Palavas les Flots > Carnon > La Grande Motte

the bridge of Frontignan

With an air draft of only 1.5m, it is necessary to wait for its deck to raise to pass on a barge. This occurs twice each day, at 8:30 and 16:00.

the Muscat de Frontignan

the Muscat de Lunel

the Palavas les Flots Beach

the Carnon Beach

From La Grande Motte to St Gilles, 34 km, 0 Lock(s), 4.5 h of navigation

Stopover : La Grande Motte > Aigues Mortes > Gallician > St Gilles

Aigues-Mortes

This fortified town was built by Louis XIV in the 13th century. Its most significant monument is the Tower of Constance, which in times gone by served as a state prison.

Saint Gilles

The Abbey of Saint-Gilles dates back to the 10th century. This former Benedictine monastery has been one of the designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France since 1998.

the birds of Camargue

The Rhône delta, between Sète and Beaucaire, is a great location to see the birds of the Camargue: the pink flamingo, the common cuckoo, the Eurasian coot, the great crested grebe, the European bee-eater and the kingfisher, as well as the wild Camargue horses.

From St Gilles to Bellegarde, 12 km, 0 Lock(s), 1.6 h of navigation

Stopover : St Gilles > Bellegarde

Saint Gilles

the Clairette de Bellegarde

Bike

Tow paths provide an ideal place to ride your bike

The Locks

2 type(s) of lock(s) on The Canal du Midi

Automatic locks operated by boaters themselves, without a lock-keeper
Automatic locks