Along the water on the Canal des 2 mers in Tarn et Garonne
There's nothing like travelling along the Canal des 2 mers to explore all that Terres des Confluences has to offer: on foot, by bike or by boat. There's plenty to discover here, including the Cacor Bridge in Moissac, the Eiffel footbridge over the port of Castelsarrasin, and landscapes of vineyards and orchards....
The Canal des 2 Mers: from the Mediterranean to the Ocean
The Canal du Midi and the Canal de Garonne
The Canal de Garonne and the Canal du Midi together form the Canal des Deux-Mers. From Sète on the Mediterranean to Castets en Dorthe on the Gironde estuary, you can enjoy discovering new things at your own pace, surrounded by nature and fresh air.
Its750 km of cycle paths and waterways are among the most popular in France. It's a real pleasure to go from stage to stage by bike or boat, with new discoveries every day.
A brief history of the Canal 2 deux mers
Linking the Mediterranean to the Atlantic to improve trade in the south of France is an old project. The Canal Latéral de Garonne was dug as a continuation of the Canal du Midi, built by Pierre-Paul Riquet in the 17th century.
The first stage, completed in 1845, was to link Toulouse to Moissac, via Castelsarrasin. Since then, freight transport has given way to tourism, and the creation of the Vélo Voie Verte, built on the old towpaths, has given the canal a new lease of life.
A quelque hectomètres du centre ville, le canal de Garonne traverse le Tarn... un des rares pont canal de France ... sa construction en briques rouges l'identifie à la région... sa solidité à permis de supporter la voie ferrée le temps de la reconstruction par l'entreprise SPIE du pont Eiffel détruit lors de la crue du Tarn en mars 1930.
Chuchoté par Bernard
Your favourite stops on the Canal in Moissac and Castelsarrasin
The Cacor Bridge, when the canal spans the Tarn
The Cacor Bridge is where the Canal des 2 mers crosses the Tarn. At 356 metres long and with 15 arches, it is the third largest canal bridge in France. Built in 1845, the canal was designed to transport goods to Bordeaux.
The bridge's structure, made of Toulouse bricks and white Quercy stone, symbolises the meeting of the two rivers and their respective regions.
As well as being impressive, the Pont Cacor offers superb views over the Tarn and the orchards of Moissac and Terres des Confluences.
Did you know?
After the flood of 1930, the railway bridge collapsed. For 2 years, trains travelled over the Cacor Bridge.
The Eiffel footbridge in Castelsarrasin
The Eiffel footbridge, which crosses the Canal des Deux Mers at the port of Castelsarrasin, is an unusual structure that deserves a visit.
The metal structure, designed and built by Eiffel 's architect Besse at the end of the 19th century, bears witness to a prosperous economic period thanks to navigation on the Garonne Canal. At the time, it was crucial to link the station to the city centre.
The view from this bridge is particularly fine, and is undoubtedly the most photographed spot in the city.
The Saint Jacques swing bridge and the double lock at Moissac
The Saint-Jacques bridge is the last swing bridge still in operation on the whole of the Garonne canal. Stroll along for a while, and you may see it in action if a boat or barge comes along.
A little further on, as you head towards the Cacor canal bridge, you'll be impressed by the double lock that allows boats to descend onto the Tarn.
Here you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the banks of the Tarn, the Uvarium and the canal...
Do you like unusual buildings on the canal? There's another not-to-be-missed event in the Tarn-et-Garonne region, at La Pente d'Eau in Montech.
Travelling on the Canal des 2 mers and the Vélo voie verte cycle route
The Canal des 2 Mers and the Vélo voie verte
The Vélo voie verte along the Canal des 2 Mers gives you the chance to cycle along the water's edge in the shade of the trees, in complete safety.
Whether you're looking for a simple bike ride or a multi-day tour, you can choose to go as far as your heart desires. On one side: Agen then Bordeaux and the Gironde estuary; on the other: Toulouse, Castelnaudary, Carcassonne then Sète...
From Terres des Confluences you can cycle to the Canal at Boudou, Moissac, Castelsarrasin or Saint Porquier.
The canal by boat
It's now possible to have the Canal Latéral de Garonne as your address, and live in a boat as if it were your own home... with your feet in the water all year round!
The canal allows you to cruise peacefully from lock to lock.
The harbours at Moissac and Castelsarrasin are open all year round.
