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We've become addicted to cycling along the french canal banks. (Easy cycling and no traffic - well apart from the towns the canals pass through and there's usually a cycle friendly road with cycle lane)  They are beautiful and take you to wee places (and sometimes vinyards) you'd never visit otherwise and through the loveliest scenery with loads of wild-life.  Last year we cycled a fair bit of the Canal du midi/Garonne and lots of the paths there are either tarred or very smooth tracks.

This year we are headed for the Canal lateral a la Loire (around Nevers) and the Canal du centre east of Digoin or anywhere else in that general area where canal cycling is good.  I wonder if anyone has knowledge of the area or can make comments/ recommendations on the condition of the paths or CL type sites in the area.  We have previously stayed at Digoin where the cycling is good in all directions.

I have a few canal websites but they are mainly concerned with boating rather than cycling.  I am happy to post details of these if anyone is interested? 

Hi O

Done the area from Briare to Decize, (and back) on a boat. Fabulous area all round. We had bikes on the bost, so someone cycled most days between locks etc. The tow paths are always passable, and vary from dirt to t/mac, but no problems anywhere you fancy.

Starting from the top, you have :-

Rogny - les - sept - Ecluses, which is a beautiful little village where the canal opens into a basin, very much geared to touristy bits.There is a lovely well maintained municipal here for a few €'s per night. highly recommended for a visit, to see the 7 locks both old and new. I ve put some pics on my gallery.

Briare biigger town, again round a boat basin, very floral, good municipal, big but OK, has an aqueduct built by Eiffel, magnificent, you can cycle across (or walk with your bike if you are nervous)

Sancerre ---say no more, must visit to eat at the cafes in the square.

La Charitie -- fabulous church buildings in a medieval sort of setting.

Nevers is big and commercial, Decize, a bit further down is more relaxed, and there  is a big campsite on a triangle of the river/canals, with muni pool etc

Too much to go on about, personnally I would consider a 2 centre hol starting at les 7 Ecluses. You can't go wrong anywhere in the area.

Somewhere round there, between Briare and Sancerre I think, but near the canal, they have fitted up an old railway line with "platelayers type trolleys" which you can hire as a family and pedal along the old track . Totally well organised, with "sidings" for picnic stops. Right up your street i would have thought.

If you need any more details come back.

Happy hols ---FM

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 04/3/2008

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  I'd also be interested in any 'canals and cycling' websites anyone might come across. 

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http://www.vnf.fr/vnf/home.vnf?lang=en&action=vnf

http://bonjourlafrance.net/france-geography/france-canals/canals-in-france.htm

http://home.versatel.nl/mouringh.marga/index_eng.htm

http://comcom-valdecher.planet-allier.com/musee_du_canal.html

http://www.midicanal.fr/

The last one didn't work when I tried it but that might be temporary so I've left it in.Edit - working again!

Thanks to you all for the replies. And thanks for http://www.burgundy-canal.com/v/pouilly.html 

Quote: Originally posted by Frogman14 on 04/3/2008

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Hi O

Done the area from Briare to Decize, (and back) on a boat. Fabulous area all round. We had bikes on the bost, so someone cycled most days between locks etc. The tow paths are always passable, and vary from dirt to t/mac, but no problems anywhere you fancy.

Starting from the top, you have :-

Rogny - les - sept - Ecluses, which is a beautiful little village where the canal opens into a basin, very much geared to touristy bits.There is a lovely well maintained municipal here for a few €'s per night. highly recommended for a visit, to see the 7 locks both old and new. I ve put some pics on my gallery.

Briare biigger town, again round a boat basin, very floral, good municipal, big but OK, has an aqueduct built by Eiffel, magnificent, you can cycle across (or walk with your bike if you are nervous)

Sancerre ---say no more, must visit to eat at the cafes in the square.

La Charitie -- fabulous church buildings in a medieval sort of setting.

Nevers is big and commercial, Decize, a bit further down is more relaxed, and there  is a big campsite on a triangle of the river/canals, with muni pool etc

Too much to go on about, personnally I would consider a 2 centre hol starting at les 7 Ecluses. You can't go wrong anywhere in the area.

Somewhere round there, between Briare and Sancerre I think, but near the canal, they have fitted up an old railway line with "platelayers type trolleys" which you can hire as a family and pedal along the old track . Totally well organised, with "sidings" for picnic stops. Right up your street i would have thought.

If you need any more details come back.

Happy hols ---FM

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Many thanks FM for that reply.  That's what I love about this website.  Everyone happy to share experiences.  I'm going to look at that section on the map and will certainly ask if I need more info.

I'm not really into setting up websites but I'd be happy to contribute my own experiences of cycling by the canals with comments on surfaces etc.

By the way, I bought the IGN map No 913 called France Tourisme Fluvial (3615 IGN). I managed to get it mail order in the UK - cost £4.75 + postage but it's really good and has all the ecluses (locks) and places of interest/features along the canals marked with a key code.  I wouldn't go without it because the canals are really difficult to locate on a conventional map.  I think I just googled the map details and a supplier was on the list. Delivered the next day. You'd be amazed to see the network of canals in France and they seem to be gradually bringing the canals (and paths)  up to standard with the help of the EC money we so generously donate and France so eagerly spend on Canals, historic buildings and NEW ROADS - which don't feature in the UK for some strange reason!

Would there be enough interest to get an ongoing thread on UKCS and we could all chuck in our opinions.  We'd need sub-sections on each canal.

Hi O

Not a canal based track, but if you are interested there is a fabulous converted railway line which runs through Neufchatel -en-Bray through to Dieppe. they have fettled up the old stations to be bike halts, and everything is top drawer. There is a site called camping St Claire ( reviewed on here) which is on  the track.

There is a similar thing which runs alongside the south side of Lake Annecy.

FM

Quote: Originally posted by Frogman14 on 04/3/2008

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Hi O

 I ve put some pics on my gallery.

 

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I've had a look.  Nice pics.

I'll definitely be doing that bit of canal.  Can't wait.  Thanks a lot.

Did you have a look at the websites I posted?  Inspiring.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 04/3/2008

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We've done some cycling along the Canal du Midi, and the Burgundy canal around Pouilly-en-Auxois. http://www.burgundy-canal.com/v/pouilly.html  The stretch on the Canal du Midi, from Agde, was hard going because it the towpaths were not tarmaced, and it was also very hot BUT we did love it!!!   I'd also be interested in any 'canals and cycling' websites anyone might come across. 

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Val - if you are back there, try the area on either sides of Moissac, at least as far as Agen and the other way to Moissac - very good paths and some were being upgraded last year.

Around Digoin on the Canal du Centre is also excellent.

The disused Canal du Berry is also good near Mehun sur Yevre (west of Bourges) where there is a great Municip with the best loos I've seen (and a motorhome service point) And a mannie with a wood fired pizza take-away van at the door on some nights.  Hmmmm.  I'm a BBQ man but the Pizzas were really nice.

Anyway the paths there are not bad if you don't go too far and give yourself a sore a**e as they are not permanently surfaced.

There's also a disused canal in the Loire south of Saumur (Canal de la Dive)  You can cycle south from La Motte Bourbon (East of Montreuil-Bellay) For quite a bit but the paths are unmade after a while. Lovely scenery makes up for the path.  You have the option of using very quiet public roads for the return journey if your nether parts are tender! They sell Melons in the fields in September.

Great picnic spots at one time locks.

We're back in France this year - and thinking about a bit more cycling - may well do another stretch of the Canal du Midi - I just love it down there!  Thanks for your suggestions.

Just outside Capestang, on the Midi, (lovely Sunday market there by the way) we sat in the shade for almost a whole afternoon watching kingfishers fishing and taking fish back to their young - absolutely magical, and hardly a boat in sight!  I think we didn't want to get back on the bikes, because we were so hot, and we'd got the proverbial sore posteriors!  No made up towpath on that section!  We were given a melon, and some apricots by an old man who lived alongside the canal - and we picked a hop vine from just outside his garden (he said it would be OK) and although now very 'threadbare' we still have it on top of our dresser!  Lovely memories.

We've now also got an inflatable canoe - and although no use for canals, we use it on the various rivers we've come across - Ardeche, Tarn, Dourbie, Chassezac, and others - this is also lovely - and even quieter, if possible, than cycling, particularly on rivers where there is not much other 'boating' going on.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 05/3/2008

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We're back in France this year - and thinking about a bit more cycling - may well do another stretch of the Canal du Midi - I just love it down there!  Thanks for your suggestions.

Just outside Capestang, on the Midi, (lovely Sunday market there by the way) we sat in the shade for almost a whole afternoon watching kingfishers fishing and taking fish back to their young - absolutely magical, and hardly a boat in sight!  I think we didn't want to get back on the bikes, because we were so hot, and we'd got the proverbial sore posteriors!  No made up towpath on that section!  We were given a melon, and some apricots by an old man who lived alongside the canal - and we picked a hop vine from just outside his garden (he said it would be OK) and although now very 'threadbare' we still have it on top of our dresser!  Lovely memories.

We've now also got an inflatable canoe - and although no use for canals, we use it on the various rivers we've come across - Ardeche, Tarn, Dourbie, Chassezac, and others - this is also lovely - and even quieter, if possible, than cycling, particularly on rivers where there is not much other 'boating' going on.

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Hi again Val

I just noticed this http://www.midicanal.fr/guidegb.html on the midi website.  It's a new cycling book for the canal and is published in English - about £7 .

Even if you get a few good tips/places of interest, it could be worth it?  We won't be going that far south this year, (unless the weather is a disaster) but I might buy it in a future year.  If you (or anybody else) go for it, can you let me know what you think of the publication please?  I'd think there might be details of the paths/places on some of the randonnee guides if anyone out there comes across one?

Hi - it looks good at first glance.  I'll post on here if we come across anything else of interest or if we buy the book.

We've just been looking at various websites for the Canal du Midi this weekend.  We picked up a brochure at the Caravan Show on barging on the Canal - and we thought we might just hire a boat and do a section - but I'd really like to do a Rick Stein and do the whole length!!   A lot of the companies do those very French 'Penichettes' but we did come across one company which offers narrow boats like those on our canals, which I think I'd prefer - you can take the bikes on the back too!