Le Canal du Midi en Camping-Car : advice, areas, routes

How to visit the Canal du Midi by camping-car or furnished van? Discover our guide for a successful travelling trip!

What if we go to the Canal du Midi? There is no need to go abroad to offer a pretty road trip on a camping-car or in a furnished van. You don’t want to travel by going to the hotel or home? We understand you. We have the solution: go to the Canal du Midi by camping-car ! Built by Pierre-Paul Riquet between 1666 and 1681, this book is one of the oldest canals in Europe still in operation. The Canal du Midi, from Toulouse (31) to Marseillan (34), is the largest construction site in the 17th century. Under the Old Regime, it revolutionizes river transport and trade. Thanks to this work, the boats could reach the Mediterranean Sea from the Garonne, without passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. This realization has also deprived Spain of many resources at the time.

The canal begins at the port of the Embouchure of the Bridges-Jumeaux (Toulouse) and is connected to the port of Sète by the pond of Thau. Its total length is 241 kilometers. It has 63 locks that are still in operation today. A true monument of art, tourism and engineering, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Visit the Canal du Midi by camping-car promises to sublimate your escapades in the Midi, between history, culture and wonder. Here is our mini-guide to visit the Canal du Midi in camping-car.

Ideas of itineraries along the Canal du Midi by camping-car

The Canal du Midi can be travelled in both directions, from Toulouse or from Les Onglous to Marseillan. This is a river path. The banks are practicable on foot and by bike, but the roads do not extend the canal throughout its length. So we have to go through the occitan towns and villages. You will also have to check the access to the Canal du Midi on a map. Then establish your steps according to the duration of your journey. Drive over 241 kilometers in two or three days you would miss many views of the canal.

To avoid a too early visit, restrain your steps. For example, from Toulouse to Carcassonne, or from Carcassonne to Marseillan. There are nevertheless must-see sites of the Canal du Midi, including the threshold of Naurouze, Castelnaudary or the 9 locks of Fonseranes. Here are some steps ideas:

• 3 days since Toulouse : the Ponts-Jumeaux, the canal of Brienne, Villefranche-de-Lauragais and the Seuil de Naurouze, Castelnaudary,
• 5 days : the same steps, the more locks and the mechanical bridge of the Fresquel, the City of Carcassonne,
• 7 to 10 days : the same steps, the more the village of Marseillette, the bridge-channel of Argent-Double, the bridge-canal of Répudre, the detour to Narbonne, the tunnel of Malpas (Nissan-lez-Enserune), the 9 locks of Fonseranes, the town of Béziers, the bridge-canal on the Orb, the work of the Libtangron, the lock

These steps are only indicative. If you have more time, stay more in cities and villages to better visit historical monuments. A detour to the beaches of Hérault is also a good idea of relaxation at the end of the stay.

Drive along the Canal du Midi by camping-car : the traffic rules to know

Along the Canal du Midi, you can take the forbidden meanings. Of course, we're joking. The Canal du Midi is longed by the A61 motorway from Toulouse to Trèbes (11). Note that taking the highway will not really allow to explore the canal. The monument is also longed by the departmental roads serving the villages between Toulouse and Carcassonne. In particular, D813 and D6113. After Carcassonne, the channel follows the D610, the D11 and the D5. In the departments of Aude and Hérault, departmental roads can sometimes be narrow. And some motorists like to venture at any speed. Due to the important template, repeat caution if you go on camping-car. Pay attention to the roads marked with rowing plane trees.

Of course, the rules of the road code do not differ from the rest of France. The driving is done on the right, with the overruns on the left, and the priority on the right is set. If the weight of the motorhome is less than 3.5 tonnes, the speed limits are the same as those of the cars. A motorhome must always remain on the right track in the roundabouts. From the point of view of the road code, a motorhome is a vehicle like another. The speed limits are as follows:

• 50 km/h in agglomeration,
• 70 to 80 km/h off-road,
• 90 km/h on overpass sections,
• 110 km/h on separate roads,
• 130 km/h on the highways.

The maximum legal alcohol level in France is 0.5 g/l, maximum two glasses of alcohol.

Motorway to the Canal du Midi: what price for your camper category?

The Canal du Midi is followed by the A61, the Deux-Mers motorway, linking Toulouse to Narbonne. To visit the Canal du Midi by camping-car in the Hérault, take the A9 between Narbonne and Bessan (Agde). In southern France, VINCI Autoroutes operates the concession of the highways. And these highways are subject to to tolls. The payment method is simple, it consists of removing a ticket at the entrance, and you pay at the exit according to the mileage done. Coming to the Canal du Midi by camping-car, you will have to pay the price in class 2. Here are some prices listed on the VINCI Autoroutes tariff grid:

• 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 €.

The camper areas along the Canal du Midi: where to park?

If you are visiting the Canal du Midi by camping-car and by bike, you will not be able to park anywhere. You'll have to look at each small port the places available. The best of course is to leave the camping-car and go by bike along the canal banks.

The wild camping is prohibited in France, but it is nevertheless allowed to park on the delimited pitches of the road. He is also allowed to sleep inside his vehicle at the stop. Do not leave your camping equipment (cales, tables, chairs, parable, etc.) on the public space. If you brave the law and settle on public space for a night, here are some of our tips. Be sure to always leave the places as you have found them, without uncleaning the environment.

You will find many campsites where you can stay legally between Toulouse and Béziers, near the Canal du Midi. La Haute-Garonne, l’Aude et l’Hérault also counts several service areas for camper where to park. They can be free or paid, and relatively remote from the Canal du Midi.

Looking for spots where to sleep during your road trip ? Download the Park4night app. This is a great tool for sharing spots between travellers. The places where to park are referenced on an interactive map. In fact, you no longer have the anguish of not knowing the places to go to spend the night. Between Toulouse and Marseillan, the application allows you to see where outdoor areas, parking, camping or service areas for campers are located. And the small plus of the app: a public comment system, published by users, allows to get an idea on the spot even before going there! The GPS coordinates of each location are also accessible from the application.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Want to visit the Canal du Midi by camping-car during a road trip? If you do not own your own motorhome, it is now easy to rent one to an individual. Many sites, such as Yescapa, allow find a vehicle to visit the Canal du Midi in furnished van or camping-car . These allow you to rent the desired vehicle easily for the duration of your road trip.

To rent a motorhome or a fitted van, nothing simpler! You will only have to follow the following steps:

• First, go to the rental app between people and choose your city. You'll find vehicles across the country! From Paris to Bordeaux, to Nantes, Marseille and many others.
• After choosing your city, choose the vehicle according to the number of beds available. However, make sure that the unlimited mileage option is available. This will save you additional costs at the end of your stay to visit the Canal du Midi in a furnished van.
• Complete your rental request that will have to take over the important points of your trip. For example, note the dates, the approximate mileage, the place of holidays as well as the desired options. Do not hesitate to provide a maximum of useful information to the owner.
• You will then have a confirmation of your application if the owner agrees. In this case, you will be able to pay before organizing a first meeting with him. This will allow you to talk more deeply about your trip, but also see the vehicle first time.
• On the day of departure, complete a rental contract with the owner. For this, present your driver's license and deposit after a state of the premises. You can then take the road and visit the Canal du Midi in an equipped van!
• When you return on vacation, you will simply make a state of the place with the owner. If nothing is damaged, you will then recover your bail.

What is the best time to travel by camping-car along the Canal du Midi?

The Haute-Garonne, the Aude and the Hérault are subject to different climatic influences. The climates of Toulouse, Castelnaudary or Carcassonne are different from those of Béziers or Agde. In general, the Canal du Midi enjoys a Mediterranean climate. On average, it is soft all year round. But medium-sized climatic conditions have high temperatures.

Autan’s wind and tramontane can be violent on the western part of the Canal du Midi (in Lauragais, between Carcassonne and Toulouse). In the east, it is the Mistral that can blow strong for several days. The temperatures are also cooler in the hinterland than on the coast. In the east of Aude and west of Herault, precipitation can be important in spring and autumn (especially during the so-called "Mediterranean" episodes). In the summer, mercury frequently exceeds 30°C or 35°C.

The advantage is that the Canal du Midi is shaded by the plane trees that border its shores. The best time to visit the Canal du Midi by camping-car is spring, summer and autumn. From late April to early October. However, nights can be fresh in April and October.