Continuing our biking adventure, about 25 kilometres past the Malpas tunnel, Le Somail offers a perfect spot to rest along the Canal du Midi. With a couple of options to eat, including a restaurant along the canal with decadent ice-creams, we could have spent hours watching boats and bikes pass by.

The quiet hamlet of Le Somail, Canal du Midi, France

The treasure of Le Somail: the bookstore, Canal du Midi, France

The treasure of Le Somail: the bookstore, Canal du Midi, France

But on the other bank, past a delicatessen store set up on a houseboat, a big traditional cellar houses a real treasure: about 50,000 books, including ancient editions, and many used books in different languages! We are surrounded by comic books, mystery novels, short stories, guide books… It is a real pleasure to browse through it all!

Time flies in such places! Our next stop is L’Oulibo…

Claire

Travel tips:

• The Canal du Midi can be biked along or navigated on. Should you choose to bike it, its rather flat terrain makes it a long but easy ride, that is even easier starting from Toulouse. Click for all our articles about the Canal du Midi!
  
• Le trouve tout du livre is an incredible bookstore, just along the banks of the Canal du Midi.
• Passing through many villages and towns, finding accommodation or food is really easy, and biking its whole length doesn’t require much logistics.
• Sète and Toulouse are well connected by inter-city trains, so it makes it a good option to bike one way and ride the train back (this will take you about two hours).
• The Canal du Midi goes through the medieval city of Carcassonne that is definitely a must-visit.
• For an interesting article about another masterpiece of engineering, check out the Panama canal unlocked!
• Check out this interactive map (quick tutorial) for the specific details to help you plan your trip and more articles and photos (zoom out) about the area!

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