The best traffic-free bike rides around Vias

The Saint Roch footbridge, inaugurated in 2016 in Sérignan, is the first structure to cross the Orb river since the construction of the old metal bridge at the very beginning of the 20th century. It was, moreover, the only access road to the village and the beaches. But the width of the roadway and the sidewalks made circulation dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The footbridge, 80 m long and 3.50 m wide, is on the contrary reserved for them, as well as for people with reduced mobility. Crossing the Orb via the Saint Roch footbridge, lingering to watch the currents rush downstream, enjoying the view of Sérignan and the collegiate church, the wild banks of the Orb, constitutes another way of entering Sérignan.

The single lock of Portiragnes opens onto the Agde reach downstream. This is a typical area of the landscapes of the Languedoc coastal strip. Indeed, from this lock onwards, the canal surface is at an altitude of only 1 meter above sea level. It runs alongside wetlands of former salt ponds (la grande Maïre), where a rich fauna and flora are found (bulls, horses, waders, amphibians, reeds...) and some pine groves. These places are conducive to the establishment of numerous campsites.

The single lock of Portiragnes opens onto the Agde reach downstream. It is a typical area of the landscapes of the Languedoc coastal strip. Indeed, from this lock, the surface of the canal is at an altitude of only 1 meter above sea level. It runs alongside wetlands of former salt ponds (la grande Maïre), where we find rich fauna and flora (bulls, horses, waders, amphibians, reeds...) and some pine groves. These places are conducive to the establishment of numerous campsites.

The Cassafières port, established in the 1980s in a basin right next to the campsites, allows you to rent a boat to navigate the canal and visit the Languedoc coastal plain.

From vineyards to beaches, from ancient villages to seaside resorts, the Canal du Midi links all the wonders of the region. Calm, natural, and friendly, it reflects our lifestyle and traditions. Between nature and culture, no matter how you cross it, it promises beautiful adventures in complete serenity.

Saint-Etienne Cathedral, built between 848 and 872, is one of the most beautiful fortified Romanesque buildings on the Languedoc coast. Built with local volcanic stone, this church, which has all the appearance of a medieval fortress, will take you back in time. It has a 35-meter-high keep structured with battlements and machicolations.

The round lock of Agde is the most original on the canal. Built in 1675-1676. It was put into operation in 1678 when the canal from Béziers to the Étang de Thau was opened to navigation. A particular situation, an original response: it was decided to build a round lock with three gates. The first opens towards the city of Sète and the Étang de Thau via a short passage on the Hérault; the second opens onto the canal coming from Béziers; the third opens onto the small canal which allows small boats to reach the city of Agde and its maritime port and then Grau d'Agde. The round lock was commissioned in 1678 when navigation opened between the Étang de Thau and Béziers. It originally measured 30 meters in diameter with a depth of 5.20 meters in the center. Thanks to this round lock and the low canal, small maritime boats can come onto the canal!

It is the « Pont Saint-Joseph », but for a long time everyone has called it « The Three Eyes Bridge ». It sounds more poetic. The Three Eyes Bridge is a very pleasant structure: a main arch to let boats pass, and two smaller ones, one of which lets water through, and the other the towpath. It must not have been easy in the time of bargemen (towing by horses) because it was necessary to detach, then reattach when the obstacle had been passed. Here it is obvious, but it is the case for almost all the bridges on the Canal du Midi. It must be said that most of the time, the boat continued on its momentum and was reattached on the other side. Another peculiarity of this place is that there are two spillways on either side of the bridge.