France are worth a few days each. Several towpath sections are tarmacked and vehicle width; those that aren’ t still offer cycling along a decent quality earth track with few or no access barriers( only occasional section are narrow and rutted).
Fine excursions from the canal include traffic-free cycling along the Canal de la Robine to Narbonne and the Med at Port-la-Nouvelle as well as a dramatic climb to the ancient site the Oppidum d’ Enserune to the west of Beziers. The Canal connects to traffic-free canal routes at each end giving a potential off road route several hundred miles long!
] Ile de Ré & La Rochelle – Medieval Seafront and Island Paradise La Rochelle, one of the first French cities to become cycle-friendly, is a truly beautiful base for exploring this stretch of the Atlantic. France’ s best preserved seaside resort is at the centre of a network of paths and is within easy pedaling distance of the incredible‘ bridge on stilts’ that links the mainland to the peaceful Île de Ré, with its segregated network of cycle paths and tracks. The island’ s capital, St Martin Ré, boasts crumbling fortifications next to a lovely harbourside area. ■
Richard Peace is an experienced cycle journalist and publisher and writes for Freewheeling France. All the above routes are covered in more detail in Cycling Northern France and Cycling Southern France guidebooks by the author- found here.
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