WCRVBB-T16-FROM ATLANTIC TO MEDITERRANEAN (BORDEAUX, GARONE ET CANAL DE MIDI) 635 km in 7 Stages

DEL ATLANTICO AL MEDITERRANEO: GARONA-CANAL MIDI
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Ruta per anar de l'Atlàntic al Mediterrani, de Burdeus a Marsellain Plage, passant per les vinyes de Burdeus, el Canal Lateral del Garona i el canal de Midi.

Ruta para ir del Atlántico al Mediterraneo, de Burdeos a Marsellain Plage, pasando por los viñedos de Burdeos, el canal lateral del Garona y el canal de Midi.

Cycling near the Garonne and the Midi Canal. The first part of the trip is through the hilly vineyard of Bordeaux, till reaching the Canal Lateral of Garonne to Toulouse and then the Midi Canal and finally reach the Mediterranean Sea at Marsellain Plage. The route changes from Atlantic weather to mediterranean weather so the vegetation changes every stage.

SUMMARY OF THE ROUTE
It's in 7 stages, four of them from Burdeus to Toulouse and three from Toulouse to the Marsellain plage, in the Mediterranean sea. This is a bike trip to ride along the navigable system of France from the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranena sea. The navigable system was first acomplished with the Canal of Midi, from Toulouse to the Mediterranean, inaugurated in 1681. From Tolouse to the Atlantic the ship navegated the Garona. Years later, the Canal Lateral of Garone was constructed to make easier to navigates, because of the irregular flood of the river.
The first part of the route crosses the Bordeaux vineyards, between chateaux and cellars. Sometimes we ride beside the Garone River. It's quite hilly, but this part is less of th first stage.
Then we started the second part, the Canal Lateral de Garone. From second to fourth stage, we ride along the cycle track, always paved. The climate is quite wet and we have atlantic vegetation. All the way is flat, except for some visits to adjacents villages. We arrive at Tolouse, at the port of embochure. Here starts de Canal Lateral Garone, Canal Midi and Canal of Briene (which leads inmediately to the Garone River).
Here starts the third part of the trip, the Canal of Midi. Three hard stages following the way of towrope next to the canal. Some times is paved some times not. The vegetation turns more and more mediterranean, the weather more hot and dry, till we arrive the Mediterranean. Between Tolouse and Carcassone we reach Seuil de Naurouze, the point of partage des aux. The somment of the trip. Here we stop climbing slightly remounting the canal locks, and we start a long way down, canal locks descending to the Mediterranean. After Carcassone, the path gets more narrow and the way more for mountain bikes.

WHICH BIKE
The better is a trekking bike, but the Canal of Midi alone perhaps better a mountain bike, for the roots of the trees. The more suspesion, the better.

WHEN TO GO
Best time is late spring early summer. For the atlantic part summer is ok, but in Mediterranean part can be too hot.

HOW TO GET THERE
There are trains from Bordeux to Narbonne, and you can carry the bike. So you can do the combination you need

WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at little hotels with can be reserved by booking.com .There are also some campings, specially municipals in many cities.

DIFFICULTIES
The first part is quite hilly and difficult to find without a GPS. Weather can be a bit wet depending on the part of the year. Canal Lateral Garone is very easy and flat to ride. Canal of Midi is very flat, but the way of towrope turns narrow and with tree's roots that difficult the riding. In summer can be quite hot in this part of the trip.

DOCUMENTATION
Canal de Midi, a pied a velo, Jean Yves Gregorie. Rando Edition.
Le Canal de Midi, Phillipe Calas. Edisud.
http://www.midicanal.fr/
http://www.canal-et-voie-verte.com/index.php?lang=fr

STAGES
Here you have all the stages. You can click on the stage to get into the stage website:
STAGE 01-Bordeaux-La Reole 90 km First stage through Bordeaux vineards and the Garone.
STAGE 02-La Reole-Port Sainte Marie 79 km All through the Lateral Canal of the Garone.
STAGE 03-Porte Ste Marie-Moissac 90 km Along Canal Lateral of Garone.
STAGE 04-Moissac-Toulouse 89,2 km We finish canal Lateral Garone and arrive to Toulouse.
STAGE 05-Toulouse-Brahm 90,1 km The start of the Canal Midi and pass the top of the route.
STAGE 06-Brahm-Le Somail 90,7 km Narrower Canal of Midi, and arriving at the Somail.
STAGE 07-Le Somail-Marsellan Plage 84,6 km Passing Beziers and arrival at Mediterranean.

You can find the other world cycling routes of the WCRVBB project clicking here to access.

You can click over this other project bike routes or search the tags in google.
- WCRVBB, for cyclotourist routes with saddlebags around the world.
- DCRVBB, for one day routes around Europe.
- KCRVBB, for one day routes with kids around Europe.
- COLVBB, for climbings of Tour de France, Vuelta a Espanya, Giro di Italia, ...
- BCNVBB, for one day routes around Barcelona.
- RBTTCASSA, for MTB routes around Cassa de la Selva (Girona).

Have a nice trip!

1: WCRVBB-T16-FROM ATLANTIC TO MEDITERRANEAN (BORDEAUX, GARONE ET CANAL DE MIDI) 635 km in 7 Stages Ver detalle
2: START: BOURDEAUX Ver detalle
3: STAGE 1: LA REOLE 90 km Ver detalle
4: STAGE 2: PORTE SAINTE MARIE 79 km Ver detalle
5: STAGE 3: MOISSAC 90 km Ver detalle
6: STAGE 4: TOULOUSE 89 km Ver detalle
7: STAGE 5: BRAHMS 90 km Ver detalle
8: STAGE 6: LE SOMAIL 90 km Ver detalle
9: STAGE 7: MARSELLAIN PLAGE 84 km Ver detalle