Canal du Midi by Bike

Five days by bike along the Canal du Midi, a 17th-century masterpiece listed by UNESCO. The flat, plane-shaded towpath links Toulouse to Béziers via Castelnaudary, capital of cassoulet, the medieval city of Carcassonne and the spectacular Fonseranes locks. It's a wonderfully gentle route, ideal for a first family bike tour: no climbs, regular stops and locks that pace the day. Reckon on 30 to 50 km daily. Spring and autumn are most pleasant, as summer can be crushing in the Lauragais. Check the surface section by section and carry water, as fountains are scarce between villages.