Bike hire and cycling holidays, South of France

Cycling in Languedoc, south France

Avid cycler and cycling expert Helen Bevis has scoured the region to bring you the very best of Languedoc's cycling opportunities:

The Languedoc is a cyclist’s paradise. From flat canal banks to undulating vineyards and steep mountain roads; whatever your style there is something here for you.

Hearty road cyclists can follow the tyre tracks of the Languedoc sections of the Tour de France. Mountain bikers can get off the beaten track and into trails through the vineyards, garrigue or mountains. Family cyclists can also enjoy the splendours of the area with well kept Voie Verte trails along quiet tracks or canal banks. The 240km path alongside the Canal du Midi is the most famous cycleway in the region, but that shouldn’t stop you exploring the endless possibilities elsewhere.

Biking along the Canal du Midi, Languedoc

With so many choices let us make things a little easier with our guide to the where, what and how of cycling in the Languedoc. Independent souls will just pick up a map and choose a route or may even be tempted to take a look at some of the companies that operate tours in the area and let them plan the routes and hotels. Don’t want to bring your bike along? Then you can use our guide to find a bike hire venue.

Happy Cycling!

Where to cycle in Languedoc

Languedoc's cycling Voies Vertes This is the best way to discover the Languedoc. You aren’t aiming to go fast or get muddy zooming downhill, you just want to explore the highways and byways; whether on or off the tarmac.

There are a number of classic rides in the Languedoc that are easy to follow and right at the top of the list is the magnificent Canal du Midi. This is the 240km trail that links Toulouse to the charming little port of Marseillan on the Mediterranean coast. You don’t have to cycle all of it, just choose the parts that you think you’d like to see. It’s a delightful way of seeing life in the slow lane; even on the bike you’ll be speedy compared to the gently chugging canal boats. Check out www.canalmidi.com, written by the author of Le Canal du Midi a vélo (N.B the hire shop Velos-Midi Cycle are no longer operating).

If you want to look beyond canals and lockgates the Languedoc- Roussillion has 8 Voies Verte (a national green cyclepaths scheme). These are specially developed cycleways in beautiful parts of the region; for full route details have a look at www.af3v.org.

Voie Verte Name	Starts	Finishes	KMs	Bikes	Countryside
1: de l'Agly	Le Barcarès	Claira	8 km	All types	Flat, coast
2: de la Vaunage	Caveirac	RD40 fin provisoire (Calvisson)	8 km	All types	Rolling
3: de Toulouges à Thuir	Toulouges	Thuir	12 km	All types	Rolling
4: du canal de la Robine	Narbonne	Port-la-Nouvelle	22 km	VTC	Flat
5: du canal du Midi Carcassonne-Trèbes	Carcassonne	Trèbes	14 km	VTT, VTC	Rolling
6: du canal du Midi de Béziers à Portiragnes-Plage	Béziers (port)	Portiragnes beach	15 km	All types	Flat, coast
7: du Jaur de Courniou à Olargues	Courniou	Mons-la-Trivalle	32 km	VTT, VTC	Mountains
8: du Martinet	Hameau d'Alcéa (Beaucaire)	Route de l'abbaye de Saint-Roman (Beaucaire)	4 km	VTT, VTC	Flat

BIKE HIRE
CYCLING HOLIDAYS

STANDARD LISTINGS:

Echappee - Bike Hire

Relax Rentals - Bike Hire

Village Vélo - Bike Hire

Location Cycles - Bike Hire

Pub Cycles - Bike Hire

Vaunage Passion Vélos - Bike Hire

Ozone VTT - Bike Hire

Holiday Bikes - Bike, Scooter, Motorcycle Hire

Vélomagg - Bike Hire

Planet Vélo - Bike Hire

Evasion Raviege - Bike Hire

Localex - Bike Hire

Espace Bike - Bike Hire

Passion Vélo - Bike Hire

Loc-Evasion - Bike Hire

Rambic Mountain Bike Rental

Cycles Cerda - Bike Hire

Melow Velos - Bike Hire (Aude)

Evasion 2 Roues - Bike Hire

VéloRoo - Bike Hire

Mellow Velos (Lozere) - Bike Hire

FEATURED LISTINGS:

VéloRoo - Cycling Holidays

VeloRoo’s cycling holidays in the south of France offer a variety of landscapes to encapsulate your senses, from a leisurely ride through idyllic local vineyards to pushing yourself on a challenging hill climb.

STANDARD LISTINGS:

Altitude - Mountain Bike Holidays