Cycling the Canal de la Garonne

Cycle the Canal de la Garonne and follow one of southern France's most relaxed and rewarding waterway routes, from the great wine city of Bordeaux through the beautiful Gascony countryside to the rose-pink city of Toulouse, where the canal connects with the UNESCO World Heritage Canal du Midi. Flat, largely traffic-free, and completable in a week, this is one of France's most accessible and enjoyable long-distance cycle routes. Suitable for first-time and experienced long-distance cyclists, families, and e-bike riders alike, this trusted Cicerone guidebook by author Declan Lyons describes the 290km (180-mile) route from north to south in 7 stages of 31–59km (19–37 miles). An optional 135km (84-mile) excursion from Bordeaux to the Atlantic coast at Lacanau is also described, along with a series of side trips to historic towns and villages throughout the Garonne valley. Cycle the Canal de la Garonne in 7 stages from Bordeaux to Toulouse, following the flat, largely traffic-free towpath through the beautiful Gascony countryside, passing the rivers Garonne, Baïse, and Tarn along the way. Extend your adventure with a 135km (84-mile) prologue excursion from Bordeaux to the Atlantic coast at Lacanau, and optional side trips to historic towns and villages including Agen, Moissac, Marmande, Valence d'Agen, and Montauban throughout the route. Discover the highlights of the Canal de la Garonne including bustling Bordeaux and the medieval bastide of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne in the north, the beautiful Gascony countryside around Nérac, and the rose-pink city of Toulouse at the journey's end. Navigate with confidence using 1:100,000 maps and elevation profiles included for each stage, with comprehensive refreshment and accommodation information and a full accommodation appendix covering the entire route. Plan your Canal de la Garonne cycling trip with practical advice on planning and preparation, your bike and what to take, getting there, health and safety, and cycle shops with repair facilities along the route. Continue your journey onto the Canal du Midi from Toulouse, with this guidebook forming the perfect first leg of a longer coast-to-coast crossing of southern France from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Cycle the Canal de la Garonne with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From the vineyards of Bordeaux to the pink city of Toulouse, this is the essential companion for one of southern France's most enjoyable and accessible waterway cycling routes.