Cycling holidays in Occitania. Bikes tours in Occitania

Cycling holidays in Occitania

Discover the Tarn by bike, the Cathar country, the Hérault, the Languedoc by bike or the Canal du Midi during a holiday in Occitania, a sunny region between the Pyrenees, the Massif Central and the Mediterranean sea. Cycling in Occitania means taking the time to enjoy the amber atmosphere of the bastides and medieval towns, to stroll between the colourful market stalls, to go back in time in the Nîmes bullring. Cycling through this region means discovering Sète and the activity of one of the most beautiful fishing ports in the Mediterranean, or enjoying the preserved natural environment along the Tarn river. This area is the ideal destination for lovers of nature and historical heritage. The variety of landscapes is matched only by the cultural diversity that this region has to offer. The sun, the sense of celebration and the gentle way of life combine to make your cycling holiday an unforgettable experience.

Occitania, cycling tours for all tastes

This region has a great wealth of landscapes and a very varied relief. Mountains, forests, garrigues, hillsides, plains and coastline are all part of the Occitanie landscape. Two mountain ranges frame it, the Massif Central to the north and the Pyrenees to the south, along the Spanish border. Rivers are also very present. In the west, Occitanie spreads out over the Garonne valley, surrounded by vast areas of plains and hillsides. On the eastern edge is the Rhône and part of its delta, the Camargue gardoise.

Discover the Canal du Midi by bike

The Naurouze threshold (or Lauragais threshold), the highest point of the Canal du Midi, is the watershed and the link between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic thanks to its extension by the Canal Latéral à la Garonne. A masterpiece of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the Canal du Midi celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2016. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the Canal du Midi has been a 240-kilometre link between the former Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon regions since the 17th century and is a great tourist attraction… 1.5 million visitors visit it every year on foot, by boat or on bicycle tours. From Toulouse to Sète via Carcassonne and Béziers, the Canal du Midi crosses the landscapes of Haute-Garonne, Aude and Hérault. Through fields of rapeseed, cypress and umbrella pine forests, cyclists enjoy a warm setting and an original way of discovering a territory.

The “Great Occitania Sites” by bike

Cycling in Occitania means discovering many of the towns, villages and natural sites that have been awarded the “Grand Site Occitanie Sud de France” label. These include Toulouse, Albi, Carcassonne, Castelnau-de-Montmiral, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Penne, Bruniquel, Agde, Pézenas and Montauban, which has also been awarded the “City of Art and History” label: Lastours, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Aguilar, Termes, Puilaurens… A unique collection in France of exceptional sites that give you the chance to experience the best of Occitanie’s heritage, its landscapes, its craftsmen, its authenticity and its hospitality.

During your cycling holidays in Occitania you will appreciate, alone, with friends or with the family, the diversity of cycling routes, easy and pleasant for all:

• Small roads and hilly routes
• Cycle routes between plains and gorges
• Greenways (routes developed exclusively for cycling which allow you to appreciate the richness of the countries you cross),
• A towpath with an exceptional natural setting.
• A rather flat cycle route, laid out along the Canal du Midi, which traces a path punctuated by remarkable engineering structures.

Whether you are a nature lover, a history buff, an amateur photographer, a gourmet or, above all, a cycling fan, you are bound to find something to suit you in the Occitanie region.