The best traffic-free bike rides around Villeneuve-Lès-Béziers

The Canal du Midi, formerly the Royal Canal, is a 17th-century technical feat designed by Pierre-Paul Riquet to connect the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Today, it is mainly a place for relaxation and discovery, where heritage, nature, and conviviality blend together.

This structure allows, during flood events, the passage of the Libron waters over the canal. It is still operated today by VNF agents under conditions virtually unchanged since the 19th century. This structure has been protected as a Historic Monument since 1996.

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.

An ideal footbridge for crossing the Orb by bike or on foot. Much more pleasant than the busy road bridge.

With its tree-lined squares, fountains, and narrow streets, Capestang is a lively village with a typical Mediterranean atmosphere. The village is located just twenty kilometers from the sea. Who would suspect, passing through, that its fate was long linked to the harvesting of sea salt? Indeed, the pond that gave it its name, "Lou Cap de l'estang" (meaning "the head of the pond"), brought wealth to the town around the 14th century. Largely dried up today, it is reborn with the rains and floods, creating a protected wetland landscape classified as a Natura 2000 site, where various species of birds and flamingos come to nest. Thanks to its salt marshes, its fertile land, and its geographical location at the crossroads of trade routes, Capestang experienced its golden age in the Middle Ages. From this rich historical past remain unique monuments that make Capestang such a singular city, where life is good.

Nice windmill and also a view from above over the pond which is very beautiful!