Cycling the Canal du Midi - Declan Lyons

Covering the length of the 240km canal from Toulouse to Sète via Castelnaudary, Carcassonne, Béziers and Agde, the book takes cyclists into the heart of Roman, medieval and Cathar history.

Although the bicycle had yet to be invented when Pierre Paul Riquet began work on the Canal du Midi in 1667, his towpath is one of the world’s best cycle tracks. A manmade corridor through La France Profonde, it feels natural and is a rich wildlife habitat.

Laid out in five stages, this two-wheel holiday guide has ‘asides’ and extra information that make it a gold mine for any traveller.