Cycle and Barge the Canal du Midi

Argeliers - part of the towpath used for bikes — The Canal du Midi towpath runs along the entire length of the canal

…and afterwards, rest onboard the luxury hotel barge Athos.

The Canal du Midi towpath stretches the entire length of the tree-lined canal. The path was historically built for the mules that towed freight barges down the canal. It is the Athos answer to a bike path – and for some passengers, a pleasant way of keeping off the gourmet pounds brought on by Athos’ onboard Chef and an indulgent week of food and wine.

Luxury hotel-barge Athos carries 10 onboard “BTwin” hybrid mountain/road bicycles for passengers’ use. Purchased new in 2011, most Athos passengers enjoy at least a few short rides per week by cruise passengers, and some additional use by crew members who shuffle Athos’ minivans to and from various moorings.

Btwins on Athos deck — Athos' deck with line-up of hybrid BTwin bicycles

The tree-lined canal is an ideal setting for the bikes: shady in the hottest of Languedoc temperatures and completely isolated from road traffic. What better place to ride surrounded by the glorious rural scenery: vineyards, old stone farm buildings, the occasional boat gliding buy?