Cycling Holiday in South of France

Passa Païs and Minerve

Independent Cycle Routes = Bike rental + map + hotel recommendations

5 days, 210 Km.

Difficulty: Hard due to climbing of hills, especially on day 3.

Departure dates: Everyday, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

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This is an independent bicycle tour:  If you prefer to book your own hotels or use campings, than this independent tour option is just for you.  We will provide you with a fully equipped bicycle (the same as used on the full package tours), waterproof panniers, maps, and hotel recommendations, the rest is up to you.  We can also store excess luggage for you until you come back.  Bicycle dropoff and/or pickup are available as well in some places.

For alternate routes similar to this route please visit our Languedoc Bike Routes page.

Day 1.  Béziers - Bedarieux.  47 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

  Starting at our shop in downtown Béziers you will quickly leave the city and head towards the mountains north of Béziers.  You will follow small paved roads through vineyards with little to no traffic.  On the way you will pass through several small villages.  There will be a few hills to climb along the way.  The last 5 km though are a downhill descent into the city of Bedarieux.

Day 2. Bedarieux - St. Pons.  39 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

At Bedarieux you join the brand new Voie Verte (bike path) called Passa Païs.  This path is an old converted railroad.  You will pass old train stations, go over bridges, and pass through tunnels.  The path is level and car free.  You are cycling through the Parc Naturel Du Haut Languedoc. The park is rich in flora and fauna, including owls, eagles, otters, the very rare European genet (a catlike mammal), and crawfish and trouts in its many streams. Many protected species live in the park.  Along the way you will pass many natural wonders such as the thermal springs at Lamalou-Les-Bains, the stunning canyon of Gorges d'Heric (feel free to stop here and take a small hike), and caves.  You will also pass through Olargues, voted one of the most beautiful villages in France.  In Olargeus, make sure to visit the Pont Du Diable.  In St Pons you can visit the new museum of pre-history, located across the street from a church founded in 936 (no, not 1936, but 936!).

Day 3. St. Pons - Minerve.  42 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

Soon after St Pons you will depart the Voie Verte and head back south again.  At Courniou you can visit the caves of La Deveze, located along the Voie Verte.  The rest of the day will see many climbs and descents as you are crossing a mountain range to get to Minerve.  You will be on roads with moderate to no traffic. Today you will reach the highest point of your entire journey, at 678 meters.  The last 7 Km will be all the way downhill.  Minerve, just as Olargues, has also been voted one of the most beautiful villages of France and you will be spending the night here.

Attention:  Please make sure you are not in Minerve on Tuesday or Wednesday!  All restaurants in Minerve are closed on Tuesday night and Wednesday all day.

Day 4.  Minerve - Narbonne.  44 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

There are a few climbs today making your way out of Minerve and farther south again.  However, the last 33 Km will be downhill.  You will cycle through Bize-Minervois where bones have been found of cro-magnon people.  A few kilometers farther you will cross the famous Canal Du Midi at Le Somail.  Canal Du Midi is an UNESCO world heritage site, and Le Somail is its most authentic and beautiful village.  Following the Canal de Robine along a bike path, you will soon reach Narbonne.  In front of the cathedral you can see part of the old Roman road that ran from Italy to Spain.  If you decide to spend another night in Narbonne, you can cycle to the beach and back again following a dedicated bike path.

Day 5.  Narbonne - Béziers.  36 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

Leaving Narbonne you will follow small roads with little to no traffic passing through several small villages.  After about 26 Km you will join the Canal Du Midi and head downstream towards our hometown.  Along the way you will see the Tunnel de Malpas, the only tunnel on the Canal Du Midi, and the famous Nine Locks of Fonseranes, where the canal drops 21.5 meters.  Shortly after that a beautiful aquaduct will take you directly into Béziers.