Day 2: Donneville to Renneville (21.5 kilometres, 13.4 miles)
Between Donneville and Renneville, the Midi Canal slices through fields of summer sunflowers—a line of plane trees providing a ribbon of shade and tranquillity among a riot of cheerful yellow blooms.
There are few places to stop for lunch along the way unless you are prepared to venture off the towpath, so bring a picnic lunch and choose a lock or any grassy bend along the canal to rest awhile.
(Published November 2016, last updated February 2022)
Écluse de Montgiscard
After leaving Donneville, a leisurely thirty minutes of walking will bring you to Écluse de Montgiscard. If you fancy a pastry or tarte au chocolat, cross the canal at the bridge and climb the hill to the village where you’ll find a boulangerie (bakery) as well as several cafés. But if you are looking for more practical supplies, there is a supermarket a short distance along the canal.
A barge squeezes into Écluse de Montgiscard
Sunflowers at Écluse de Sanglier
Glimpses of Montesquieu-Lauragais through the trees
Several towns and villages are visible from the canal between Donneville and Renneville — Baziège, Ayguesvives, Montesquieu-Lauragais, Villenouvelle, Villefranche-de-Lauragais and Gardouch. All offer a variety of cafés, services and sometimes toilets. Before you detour from the canal, remember that small supermarkets and bakeries will close for lunch and public toilets are not always well-maintained.
It’s a good idea to start the day’s walk well-prepared, with enough water and trail mix to see you through.
Écluse de Negra
In the late seventeenth century, when the Midi Canal opened to boat traffic, the journey from Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea took four days, with fixed stops for lunch and overnight stays, as there were no sleeping quarters for passengers on the vessels. In those days, boats stopped for lunch on the first day here at Écluse de Negra where a small chapel and a canteen provided shelter and a break.
Écluse de Negra
Today, the port at Écluse de Negra is still a popular mooring spot for boats stopping for a lunch break — the nautical equivalent of lorries lined up at a truck-stop.
Somewhere between Écluse de Negra and Écluses de Laval
Écluses de Laval
Somewhere between Écluses de Laval and Écluse de Gardouch
From Écluse de Negra, it’s a pleasant hour-long stroll to Écluses de Gardouch where you’ll find picnic tables, toilets and drinkable water.
Picnic tables at Écluses de Gardouch
The double lock at Écluses de Gardouch
Another hour and today’s walk is done.
Somewhere between Écluse de Gardouche and Écluses de Renneville
Sunflowers line the towpath between Écluses de Gardouche and Écluse de Renneville
Somewhere between Écluses de Gardouche and Écluse de Renneville
Between Donneville and Renneville, accommodation is available in Ayguesvives, Villenouvelle, Gardouch and Villefranche-de-Lauragais (check here for a full list of towns offering accommodation along the Midi Canal). In all cases, a detour off the canal will be required.
Local bus services connect Renneville to Toulouse, Ramon-Saint-Agne, Donneville, Ayguesvives, Gardouch and Villefranche.
To reach Renneville from the canal – at Écluse de Renneville, cross the canal and follow the D72 for 100 metres. When the D72 turns left, keep going straight ahead into the village. From here, you’ll see signs directing you to the chambre d’hôte.
To rejoin the canal – retrace your steps.
Overnight accommodation in Renneville
Le Souleilla (four rooms, 12 people) book through your favourite hotel booking website
How to book accommodation in French
Learn more about walking along the Midi Canal from Toulouse to Carcassonne
Enjoy a walk along the Midi Canal from the comfort of your armchair
Day 2: Donneville to Renneville
Day 3: Renneville to Castelnaudary
Day 4: Castelnaudary to Alzonne
