Culture and sightseeing
Villages
Along the Canal des Deux Mers :
- South of Toulouse, see Gardouch and Mongiscard, villages built entirely of the orange-red brick typical of this area, known as the Midi Toulousain. Continue to Villefranche de Lauragais, a 13th century 'bastide' town, and Avignonet-Lauragais, formerly a major centre for woad cultivation in the region known as the Pays de Cocagne.
- North of Toulouse, stop off to explore the 13th century 'bastide' of Grenade, the town of Montech (church in the Toulouse Gothic style, fine town houses) and the opulent architecture of Valence d’Agen.
20 minutes away :
- Saint-Félix de Lauragais : a characterful village overlooking the Lauragais plain where the first council of the Cathar Church was held in the 13th century.
Museums
20 minutes away :
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Musée et Jardins du Canal du Midi, on the shore of the Lac de Saint Ferréol, near Revel: France's only museum about the epic story of how the Canal du Midi was built and Pierre-Paul Riquet, the engineer behind it.
Tel. +33 (0)5 61 80 57 57 – www.museecanaldumidi.fr
Regional specialities
Along the Canal des Deux Mers :
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Péniche « La Maison de la Violette » canal barge in Toulouse, moored near the railway station. For all there is to know about Toulouse violets including some lesser-known facts such as how it is used in cooking.
Tél. 05 61 99 01 30 – www.lamaisondelaviolette.fr
- Serre Viola 2000, in Villefranche de Lauragais: a flower nursery specialising in Toulouse violets (in bloom in February/March). In the summer you can hire a Rosalie quadricycle to ride the tow path along the Canal du Midi.
Tél. 05 61 81 22 18.
Other Top Tourist Destinations in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean
Along the Canal des Deux Mers :
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Toulouse, the capital of Occitania. Young, vibrant and charming. A major city with a village feel that boasts more than 2,000 years of history. www.toulouse-visit.com
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Moissac, a famous staging post on St James's Way to Santiago de Compostela and one of France's important centres of Romanesque art. http://tourisme.moissac.fr
20 minutes :
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Sorèze, Revel-Saint-Ferréol : near Revel in Haute Garonne, the Lac de Saint Ferréol (swimming, water sports) is the main water supply system for the Canal du Midi. www.auxsourcesducanaldumidi.com
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Albi : the town is famous for its Toulouse-Lautrec Museum and the Cathedral of Sainte Cécile, both of which are part of Albi's Cité Épiscopale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. www.albi-tourisme.fr
Outdoor activities
Cycling
Along the Canal des Deux Mers :
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The 'voie verte' along the Canal des Deux Mers: this traffic-free cycle path is one of the loveliest cycling routes in southern France. For full details, go to the Traffic-free cycling and walking routes pages - www.canaldes2mersavelo.com
Festival and shows
Along the Canal des Deux Mers :
- Convivencia, a travelling world music festival that follows the course of the Canal. In July.
- Au fil de l’eau une histoire, in Valence d’Agen: an impressive sound and light show about the history of the Canal and surrounding area. In August.