The Canal du Midi is an engineering wonder, a 241km waterway constructed under Louis XIV to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea. Deservedly inscribed on Unesco's list of the world's cultural heritage since 1996, the stretch wending from Toulouse towards Port Lauragais has 40km of cycling and walking paths to enjoy.
© therry / Getty Images
Canal du Midi
Toulouse, Gers & Vallée du Tarn
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
2.45 MILES
The fantastic space museum on the city's eastern outskirts brings Toulouse's illustrious aeronautical history to life through hands-on exhibits, including…
0.81 MILES
With its palm tree vaulted ceiling, the Couvent des Jacobins is one of Toulouse’s oldest and most recognizable buildings
0.64 MILES
Toulouse’s grandiose main square is the focal point in the heart of France’s "Pink City"
5.88 MILES
This aviation museum was built on the very spot the A380 Airbus was first completed. Here you can admire commercial and military aircraft and learn behind…
0.64 MILES
This well-preserved Romanesque edifice is built from golden and rose-hued stonework up to the tip of the octogonal bell tower. Entry is free, but it’s…
0.61 MILES
On the eastern side of place du Capitole (the main square) is the 128m-long façade of the Capitole, Toulouse's city hall. This neoclassical masterpiece,…
0.86 MILES
This luxurious museum of fine arts and historic design is housed within Toulouse’s most impressive hôtel particulier (private mansion), the Hôtel d…
0.68 MILES
Having trouble imagining Toulouse decorated with 4th-century nude Venuses and Corinthian columns? This light-filled museum neatly aligns the city's modern…
Nearby Toulouse, Gers & Vallée du Tarn attractions
0.61 MILES
On the eastern side of place du Capitole (the main square) is the 128m-long façade of the Capitole, Toulouse's city hall. This neoclassical masterpiece,…
0.64 MILES
This well-preserved Romanesque edifice is built from golden and rose-hued stonework up to the tip of the octogonal bell tower. Entry is free, but it’s…
0.64 MILES
This striking 14th-century church commemorates the city's patron saint, St Sernin, who was reputedly martyred on this very spot.
0.64 MILES
Toulouse’s grandiose main square is the focal point in the heart of France’s "Pink City"
0.65 MILES
The city cathedral dates mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries, and has a gorgeous rose window. It's also the burial place of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the…
0.68 MILES
Having trouble imagining Toulouse decorated with 4th-century nude Venuses and Corinthian columns? This light-filled museum neatly aligns the city's modern…
0.81 MILES
With its palm tree vaulted ceiling, the Couvent des Jacobins is one of Toulouse’s oldest and most recognizable buildings
0.86 MILES
Toulouse boasts more than 50 hôtels particuliers – private mansions built for the city's nobles and aristocrats during the 16th and 17th centuries. Among…