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mythster Toulouse - A travel report by Ned
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Toulouse,  France - flag France -  Midi-Pyrenees
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mythster's travel reports

Cycling in the French Midi

  16 votes
We spent the first night after our arrival in Toulouse at the Hotel D’Orsay, a pleasant and inexpensive hotel close to the train and coach terminals. The next morning we picked up our bikes from “Movimento” a bicycle rental company close to our hotel.


My riding partner (AKA my wife)
My riding partner (AKA my wife)
The first day was a short ride; we only went as far as Mongiscards, about fifteen miles east of Toulouse. We had booked into a “Chambre d’Hote” (French for B&B) called Les Fontanelles. It was a recently converted farmhouse. The rooms were large and attractively furnished and there was a lovely pool. The hosts provided excellent lunch, dinner and breakfast with local wines. Total cost for the two of us was $150.00. The following day, we got an early start and after a great three course lunch in Castelnaudry, ($11.00) we arrived in the village of Alzonne in time for a swim before dinner. We had pedaled about 45 miles and a swim in the pool of our “Chambre d’Hote” was more than welcome. This time our “Hote” was close to the center of the village. It was very hot and no air-conditioning so we left the windows open but there was considerable noise from a nearby Café until the wee hours. Dinner was “OK” (rate it 5 on a ten point scale), The price was close to what we paid the previous night. Next day, (Thursday, July 4) we were back on our saddles early and rode to Carcassone, where we stopped for lunch After lunch (Duck salad, grilled chicken and dessert with wine and coffee $12.00 per person) we rode about 20 miles to Marseillette where we were greeted by the owners of Fontsainte wineries; Bruno Laboucarié and his father Yves. Yves Laboucarié established Fontsainte in its current incarnation in 1971 - though his family's links to winemaking in Boutenac date to the 17th century. He inherited vines, bought parcels and became a Corbières pioneer of quality. Our final leg took us back to the Canal
and eastward to Beziers on the Mediterranean. There we put our bikes on the train and headed to Sete where we checked into a quayside hotel and feasted on local sea food at a "La Corniche"
one of the many restaurants lining the Quay. A huge three course dinner with a seafood platter (oysters, mussels, shrimp etc) and the local specialty; "La Bourride" + wine was $50.00 (for 2)

Favourite spots:
"Le Canal du Midi" near Mongiscours.
Toulouse, Mongiscards, Boutenac, Les Corbieres, Beziers

What's really great:
The vineyards of Fontesante
The vineyards of Fontesante
The verdant tranquility of the Canal du Midi, the food, the people and the wine

Sights:
The canal du Midi, Carcasone and its restored rampart, La Corbieres, the villages, the vineyards and the wineries.

Accommodations:
Chambre d'Hote; Les Muriers de Platanes
Chambre d'Hote; Les Muriers de Platanes
Hotel D'Orsay , Les Muriers de Platane,

Nightlife:
Haven't a clue. "The nightlife ain't the right life"

Published on Tuesday September 5th, 2006


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Sun, Sep 24 2006 - 04:54 AM rating by marianne

Ned,
Very good and informative firts part then it fizzled out a bit. You know that you can always add more info later. Simply click on: edit this report.
Marianne

Wed, Sep 06 2006 - 11:28 AM rating by bear495

Thank you for the information. You started the report well, but there is very little information past the first section.
Russ

Tue, Sep 05 2006 - 02:07 PM rating by mrscanada

Thanks for the memories. I'd never attempt this trip on a bike!!!

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