The best MTB trails in Hérault

The greenway runs here on a narrow strip of land between the étang de la Moulière to the north and the Crique de l’Angle to the south. The latter is a natural cove located at the eastern end of the étang de Thau, where the fresh waters of the Vène meet the brackish waters of the lagoon. This wetland, classified as Natura 2000, is home to many water birds in particular.

The greenway runs here on a narrow strip of land between the Étang de la Moulière and the Crique de l’Angle. To the south, the view opens up beyond the Crique de l’Angle over the Étang de Thau, then over Sète, dominated by the silhouette of Mont Saint-Clair (183 m).

This remarkable structure composed of mobile aqueducts allows boats navigating the Canal du Midi to cross the small river Libron. Created in 1855 by Urbain Maguès, an engineer also responsible for the bridge-canal of Béziers.

🚲 Voie Verte du Lido – by bike from Marseillan-Plage to Sète The Voie Verte du Lido connects Marseillan-Plage with Sète and runs along the narrow coastal strip between the Mediterranean Sea and the Étang de Thau. 🌊🚲 Over about 13 kilometers, it's almost completely flat towards Sète. There are only about 20 meters of elevation gain – so you won't find any major climbs here. The asphalt bike path largely runs separate from car traffic, making it ideal for a relaxed ride. On one side lies the Mediterranean Sea with its kilometer-long sandy beaches and dunes, on the other the Étang de Thau. Along the way, you'll pass, among other things, the historic Redoute du Castellas and the Camping Le Castellas ★★★★ located directly on the sea. 🇫🇷 The quieter beach sections away from the main access points are particularly beautiful. In some places, it's much easier to get there on foot or by bike than by car – so you can still find surprisingly quiet corners even on this popular coast. 🏖️👌🏼 The Lido itself is also an important natural area. The narrow strip of land separates the Étang de Thau from the Mediterranean Sea and has been extensively redesigned in recent years to better protect the dunes and coast from erosion. 📍 Route: approx. 13.1 km 📈 Elevation gain: approx. 20 m 🚲 Surface: predominantly asphalt 🌊 Location: between the Mediterranean Sea and the Étang de Thau 🇪🇺 Long-distance cycle route: Part of the EuroVelo 8 / Méditerranée à Vélo connection And despite the low elevation gain, you shouldn't underestimate one opponent here: the wind. 😂💨 There is hardly any shelter on the open Lido – if it's coming straight at you, even 13 flat kilometers can suddenly feel quite sporty. A great coastal connection to Sète: sea, lagoon, dunes, beach, and almost no elevation gain – you could hardly travel the route between Marseillan-Plage and Sète any more beautifully. 🚲🌊👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼

🏰 Redoute du Castellas – old watchtower by the Lido Directly by the Lido between Sète and Marseillan-Plage, standing somewhat lost among dunes and pine trees, is the Redoute du Castellas. The small stone defensive tower was used for monitoring and defending the coast – the approach of possible attackers was to be detected early from here. The tower has three levels. The lower area presumably housed a storage room, with the actual defensive areas featuring embrasures above. The upper floors were accessible via ladders, which could be removed in an emergency. The exact dating is interesting: various sources attribute the tower to the 16th or 18th century. What is certain, however, is that the Redoute has been protected as a Monument Historique since November 6, 1939. Today, the massive little tower between the beach, dunes, and cycle path seems a little unusual – at the same time, it serves as a reminder that this seemingly peaceful stretch of coast was also once militarily monitored. 🇫🇷 Anyone cycling along the Lido will practically pass right by it. 🚲👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼

🌉 Pont des Trois Yeux – the bridge with the three eyes This unusual old stone bridge stands directly on the Canal du Midi. Its actual name is Pont Saint-Joseph, but it is best known as the “Pont des Trois Yeux” – Bridge of the Three Eyes. 🇫🇷 The name is immediately explained upon closer inspection: the bridge has three arches. The large central arch allowed boats to pass, while the two smaller openings served the water or the towing path at the time. The history of towing is particularly interesting: Before motorboats navigated the canal, the barges were primarily pulled by horses from the bank. 🐴 At many bridges, the tow rope had to be detached and reattached on the other side – such structures today still beautifully illustrate how shipping on the Canal du Midi worked in the past. Another special feature are the overflows on both sides of the bridge, through which excess water could be drained. Not a huge sight, but exactly one of those small historical structures that make a bike tour along the Canal du Midi so interesting. 🚲👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼

⚓ Écluse du Bagnas – one of the last locks on the Canal du Midi The Écluse du Bagnas is located near Agde at the eastern end of the Canal du Midi. It was built around 1676 and is therefore one of the historic locks from the canal's early days. 📍 Canal kilometer: approx. 235.3 km from Toulouse ⚙️ Type: single lock with one chamber 🌊 Altitude: only about 2 meters above sea level 🚤 Distance to Les Onglous / Étang de Thau: only just under 5 km Historically, the lock chambers here were about 30 meters long and 6 meters wide at the gates. The eastern section of the Canal du Midi was later modernized for larger ships; today, the usable lock dimensions in this area are around 40.6 × 5.85 meters. Its location is particularly interesting: the Bagnas lock is situated in the middle of a wetland and separates different water areas here. Behind it, you are practically on the final straight of the Canal du Midi – via Les Onglous, the canal flows into the Étang de Thau, and from there, there is the connection towards Sète and the Mediterranean Sea. 🌊🇫🇷 After more than 235 kilometers of canal route, you have almost reached the Mediterranean Sea here – a small but historically interesting structure at the end of the Canal du Midi. 🚲👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼

⚓ Écluse de Villeneuve – Lock on the Canal du Midi The lock at Villeneuve-lès-Béziers is one of the many historical points along the Canal du Midi and a nice stopover on a bike tour along the canal. 🚲🌿 Here you can observe well how the boats overcome the difference in altitude in the canal. Close the lock gate, change the water level, and the houseboats and leisure boats continue on the Canal du Midi. 🚤 It is precisely these old locks that, for me, are part of the special charm of the canal. You cycle relaxed along the water and repeatedly encounter structures that, to this day, ensure that the Canal du Midi, which was already built in the 17th century, is still navigable. A nice place to briefly get off your bike and watch the lock operations. 👌🏼 Greetings Marcus ✌🏼