Cruise on the Canal du Midi

From Agde

Our licence-free boat hire base in Agde is ideally situated between the Canal du Midi and its landscapes steeped in history, and the Canal du Rhône à Sète on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and sandy beaches. Renting a barge on the Canal du Midi in Agde will give you the chance to see some of the most beautiful structures and sites: the staircase of locks at Fonsérannes in Béziers, the Etang de Thau, or the lift bridge at Frontignan.

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One-way only Suitable for people with reduced mobility

Agde, a sea and canal-orientated town

Agde has been a port city ever since its foundation way back in the 6th century. Perpetuate this tradition by choosing our Agde base to board your licence-free rental boat on the waters of the Canal du Midi. We’ve chosen to set up one of our waterway bases here. Your waterway cruise from Agde will guarantee you the chance to really get away from it all, so get ready and choose your rental boat from among our various ranges.

Embark on your licence-free boat to discover Agde and its treasures

Before boarding, or while your captain is learning to steer your rental boat, you can begin your holiday by strolling through this town that, over the years, has become one of the most important marinas on the Mediterranean Sea. As you walk around, you’ll better appreciate why the town of Agde is nicknamed the “Black Pearl of the Mediterranean”. the basaltic stone explains this dark colour that characterises the city, even though you’ll also see Agde as a good example of a typical Provençal town. Saint-Etienne cathedral will be one of the essential sites to take in during your visit. Admire Brescou fort off the marina and, before heading to our nautical base, don’t resist the pleasure of marvelling at Saint-Joseph Bridge.

discover the region with our photos

St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Agde

The former Romanesque Saint Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the finest examples of a fortified church in the region. Its striking black color immediately impresses, making the cathedral a true basalt fortress. Its bell tower rises to 35 meters. Take the time to visit and explore its nave, marked by great simplicity that contrasts with the lavish 17th-century altarpiece, made of Beaucaire limestone and Carrara and Caunes-Minervois marble.

Etang de Thau

Etang de Thau is Languedoc’s largest lagoon (19 km long and 5 km wide). This natural resource has given rise to a series of artisanal activities: mussel and oyster aquaculture. These are facilitated by the diversity and abundance of phytoplankton fed on by these molluscs. This abundance is due to the moderately deep, warm and slow-moving waters. Thau is a veritable inland micro-sea with exceptional biological diversity!

The locks at Fonsérannes

The 9 locks at Fonsérannes are in fact a single huge lock with eight basins and nine gates. This lock staircase, unique in its length of 312 metres and its height difference of 21.5 metres, was listed as a historic monument in October 1996, before the Canal du Midi itself was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As its dimensions did not allow large cargo barges to pass through, a slipway was built in 1984. A little too late, river transport of goods was already in decline, and it closed shortly after it began operating.

The Mediterranean beaches

Whether you stop at Palavas-les-Flots, Carnon, La Grande-Motte, or even Le Grau-du-Roi, miles of fine sandy beaches await you for a relaxing afternoon by the sea. Swimming, sunbathing, or enjoying a romantic sunset over the Mediterranean waters—it’s up to you!

suggested itineraries Tested and approved

Set off from Agde and navigate as your desires see fit, or follow our itinerary ideas:

Week-end
Round trip	46km - 8 locks	8h	Agde - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers -Béziers - Agde
One way	31km - 12 locks	8h	Agde - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers -Béziers - Colombiers
One way	54km - 3 locks	17h	Agde – Marseillan – Mèze – Sète – Frontignan – Palavas - Carnon

Mini-week
Round trip	86km - 24 locks	19h	Agde - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers – Béziers – Colombiers - Tunnel de Malpas – Poilhes – Capestang - Agde
Round trip	108km - 6 locks	14h	Agde – Marseillan (Etang de Thau) – Mèze - Bouzigues – Balaruc – Sète (canal du Rhône au Sète) - Frontignan – Palavas – Carnon - Agde
One way	86km - 17 locks	15h	Agde – Vias - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers – Béziers - Colombiers - Tunnel de Malpas – Poilhes – Capestang - Le Somail – Paraza – Roubia - Argens-Minervois – Homps

One week
Round trip	172km - 34 locks	30h	Agde – Vias - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers – Béziers - Colombiers - Tunnel de Malpas – Poilhes – Capestang - Le Somail – Paraza – Roubia - Argens-Minervois – Homps - Agde
Round trip	208km - 6 locks	28h	Agde – Marseillan – Mèze – Sète – Frontignan – Palavas - Carnon - Porte de Vidourle - Aigues Mortes – Gallician - Saint-Gilles - Agde
Round trip	145km - 46 locks	29h	Agde – Vias - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers – Béziers - Colombiers - Tunnel de Malpas – Poilhes – Capestang - Sallèles-d'Aude (canal de la Robine) – Narbonne - Agde
One way	126km - 30 locks	25h	Agde - Portiragnes - Port Cassafières - Villeneuve-lès-Béziers – Béziers – Colombiers - Tunnel de Malpas – Capestang - Le Somail – Paraza - Argens-Minervois – Homps - La Redorte – Marseillette – Trèbes – Carcassonne

Two weeks
Round trip	252km - 76 locks	50h	Agde - Carcassonne - Agde
Round trip	290km - 12 locks	42h	Agde - Beaucaire - Agde - Béziers - Agde

Three weeks
Round trip	332km - 124 locks	70h	Agde - Castelnaudary - Agde