How to visit the Canal du Midi in a motorhome or van? Discover our guide for a successful touring trip!
How about a visit to the Canal du Midi? You don’t have to go abroad to treat yourself to a nice road-trip in a motorhome or converted van. You don’t want to travel by staying in a hotel or with a local? We understand. We’ve got the solution: visit the Canal du Midi by motorhome! Built by Pierre-Paul Riquet between 1666 and 1681, this is one of Europe’s oldest canals still in operation. The Canal du Midi, from Toulouse (31) to Marseillan (34), is the largest construction project of the 17th century. Under the Ancien Régime, it revolutionized river transport and trade. Thanks to this structure, boats could reach the Mediterranean Sea from the Garonne, without having to cross the Strait of Gibraltar. This achievement deprived Spain of many of its resources at the time.
The canal begins at the port of l’Embouchure des Ponts-Jumeaux (Toulouse) and is linked to the port of Sète by the Etang de Thau. Its total length is 241 kilometers. It has 63 locks that are still in operation today. A true monument to art, tourism and engineering, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Visiting the Canal du Midi in a motorhome promises to enhance your escapades in the Midi, between history, culture and wonder. Here’s our mini-guide to visiting the Canal du Midi by motorhome.
Route ideas along the Canal du Midi in a motorhome
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Colibri Vision
The Canal du Midi can be travelled in either direction, from Toulouse or from Les Onglous in Marseillan. This is a river route. You can walk or cycle along the banks, but the roads don’t run along the entire length of the canal. So you’ll have to pass through Occitan towns and villages. You’ll also need to check access to the Canal du Midi on a map. Next, plan your stages according to the length of your journey. If you cover 241 kilometers in two or three days, you’ll miss out on many of the canal’s best views.
To avoid a hasty visit, limit your stopovers. For example, from Toulouse to Carcassonne, or from Carcassonne to Marseillan. Nevertheless, there are a number of must-see sites on the Canal du Midi, including the Naurouze threshold, Castelnaudary and the 9 locks at Fonseranes. Here are a few ideas for stopovers:
- 3 days from Toulouse: Ponts-Jumeaux, Brienne canal, Villefranche-de-Lauragais and Seuil de Naurouze, Castelnaudary,
- 5 days: same stages, plus Fresquel locks and canal bridge, Cité de Carcassonne,
- 7 to 10 days: same stages, plus the village of Marseillette, the Argent-Double bridge-canal, the Répudre bridge-canal, a detour to Narbonne, the Malpas tunnel (Nissan-lez-Enserune), the 9 locks at Fonseranes, the town of Béziers, the bridge-canal on the Orb, the Libron structure, the round lock at Agde, the Onglous point and the Bagnas nature reserve, the Etang de Thau and the town of Sète.
These stages are only indicative. If you have more time, stay longer in the towns and villages to see the historic monuments. A detour to the beaches of the Hérault is also a good way to relax at the end of your stay.
Rent a motorhome near the Canal du Midi
Driving along the Canal du Midi in a motorhome: traffic rules you need to know
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Delpixel
Along the Canal du Midi, you can take the one-way streets. We’re joking, of course. The A61 freeway runs alongside the Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Trèbes (11). Note that taking the freeway won’t really allow you to explore the canal. The monument is also bordered by the departmental roads serving the villages between Toulouse and Carcassonne. These include the D813 and D6113. After Carcassonne, the canal follows the D610, D11 and D5. In the Aude and Hérault départements, departmental roads can sometimes be narrow. And some motorists like to venture down them at high speed. If you’re driving a motorhome on these roads, you’ll need to be extra cautious, as they’re very wide. And beware of roads lined with plane trees.
Of course, the rules of the road are no different from the rest of France. Driving is on the right, with overtaking on the left, and right of way is the rule. If the motorhome weighs less than 3.5 tonnes, speed limits are the same as for cars. Motorhomes must always stay in the right-hand lane at traffic circles. From the point of view of the Highway Code, a motorhome is a vehicle like any other. Speed limits are therefore as follows:
- 50 km/h in built-up areas,
- 70 to 80 km/h outside built-up areas,
- 90 km/h on overtaking sections,
- 110 km/h on dual carriageways,
- 130 km/h on freeways.
The maximum legal blood alcohol level in France is 0.5 g/l, i.e. a maximum of two glasses of alcohol.
Freeway tolls to the Canal du Midi: what price for your category of motorhome?
The Canal du Midi is followed by the A61, the Autoroute des Deux-Mers, linking Toulouse to Narbonne. To visit the Canal du Midi in a motorhome in the Hérault region, take the A9 between Narbonne and Bessan (Agde). In the south of France, VINCI Autoroutes operates the freeway concession. And these freeways are subject to tolls. The method of payment is simple: you collect a ticket at the entrance, and pay at the exit according to the distance covered. If you’re visiting the Canal du Midi by motorhome, you’ll have to pay the class 2 toll. Here are a few tariffs referenced on the VINCI Autoroutes price list:
- Toulouse (A61) – Béziers Ouest (A9): €27.10,
- Toulouse (A61) – Narbonne Sud (A9): €21.50,
- Toulouse – Carcassonne Est (A61): €13.80,
- Carcassonne Ouest (A61) – Béziers Ouest (A9): €12,
- Carcassonne Est (A61) – Narbonne Sud (A9): €8,
- Narbonne Sud (A9) – Béziers (A9): €2.9.
RV parks along the Canal du Midi: where to park?
If you’re visiting the Canal du Midi by motorhome and bicycle, you won’t be able to park everywhere. You’ll have to check with each little port to see what spaces are available. The best thing to do, of course, is to leave the camper van behind and cycle along the banks of the canal.
Wild camping is forbidden in France, but it is nevertheless permitted to park on roadside sites. You can also sleep inside your vehicle when stationary. But don’t take your camping equipment (chocks, tables, chairs, satellite dishes, etc.) out into public spaces. If you defy the law and set up camp in a public space for the night, here are some of our tips. Always leave the premises as you found them, without soiling the environment.
Between Toulouse and Béziers, near the Canal du Midi, you’ll find many campsites where you can sleep legally. Haute-Garonne, Aude and Hérault also boast a number of motorhome service areas. They can be free or paying, and are relatively far from the Canal du Midi.
Looking for places to stay during your road-trip? Download the Park4night app. It’s a great tool for sharing spots between travelers. Places to park are referenced on an interactive map. So you don’t have to worry about not knowing where to spend the night. Between Toulouse and Marseillan, the app lets you see where there are open-air spaces, parking lots, campsites and motorhome service areas. And the app’s little extra: a system of public comments, published by users, lets you get an idea of the spot before you even get there! GPS coordinates for each location are also accessible from the app.
How and where to rent a motorhome in France?
Would you like to visit the Canal du Midi in a motorhome on a road trip? If you don’t have your own motorhome, it’s easy to rent one from a private individual. Numerous sites, such as Yescapa, enable you to find a vehicle to visit the Canal du Midi in a converted van or motorhome. These make it easy to rent the vehicle you want for the duration of your road-trip.
Renting a motorhome or camper van couldn’t be easier! Just follow these simple steps:
- First of all, go to the car rental app and choose your city. You’ll find vehicles all over the country! From Paris to Bordeaux, via Nantes, Marseille and many others.
- Once you’ve chosen your city, select a vehicle according to the number of beds available. However, make sure that the unlimited mileage option is available. This will help you avoid additional costs at the end of your stay to visit the Canal du Midi in a converted van.
- Then fill in your rental request, which should cover all the important points of your trip. For example, note the dates, approximate mileage, vacation location and options. Don’t hesitate to give the owner as much useful information as possible.
- You will then receive confirmation of acceptance of your request if the owner agrees. In this case, you can make the payment before arranging a first meeting with the owner. This will allow you to discuss your trip in greater depth, as well as see the vehicle for the first time.
- On the day of departure, complete a rental contract with the owner. To do this, present your driving license and pay the deposit after an inventory of fixtures. Then you can hit the road and tour the Canal du Midi in a converted van!
- When you return from vacation, you simply make an inventory of fixtures with the owner. If nothing is damaged, you’ll get your deposit back.
When is the best time to travel by motorhome along the Canal du Midi?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – PyrosXav
Haute-Garonne, Aude and Hérault are subject to different climatic influences. The climates of Toulouse, Castelnaudary or Carcassonne are different from those of Béziers or Agde. Generally speaking, the Canal du Midi enjoys a Mediterranean climate. On average, the weather is mild all year round. However, average temperatures vary considerably.
The autan and tramontane winds can be violent on the western side of the Canal du Midi (in the Lauragais region, between Carcassonne and Toulouse). To the east, the Mistral may blow strongly for several days. Temperatures are also cooler inland than on the coast. East of the Aude and west of the Hérault, rainfall can be heavy in spring and autumn (particularly during so-called « Mediterranean » episodes). In summer, the mercury frequently rises above 30°C, or even 35°C.
The advantage is that the Canal du Midi is shaded by the plane trees that line its banks. The best time to visit the Canal du Midi by motorhome is spring, summer and autumn. That is, from late April to early October. However, nights can be cool in April and October.