Une halte agréable sur l'ancienne « couchée » créée par Pierre-Paul Riquet.
C’est au Somail qu’était située «la couchée», entre les deux «dinées» de la Redorte et de Fonserannes. Préservé depuis son édification au XVIIème siècle, on y trouve une chapelle, une remarquable glacière et les anciens bâtiments de l’auberge. Aujourd’hui, le hameau abrite une bibliothèque spécialisée dans les livres anciens et un musée dédié aux chapeaux.
Custom route
Custom route
23 The Canal du Midi by bike : Homps / Le Somail
A string of wine-making villages, Argens-Minervois, Roubia, Paraza and Ventenac-en-Minervois, congregate here beside the Canal du Midi, calling for your attention! Le Somail’s port was where the canal’s designer, Pierre-Paul Riquet, calculated that the post barge should stop for the couchée, or sunset, on the third day of its trip from Toulouse. Now, Le Somail is one of the canal’s most attractive stops, a picture-postcard village with its port, chapel, canal-side accommodation and amazing antiquarian bookshop.
24 Le Somail / Narbonne
This is a major additional stage that comes highly recommended. It leads you towards the city of Narbonne via a short stretch alongside a linking canal up to Sallèles-d’Aude. Then, given the lack of other options to cross the river, you need to continue via Cuxac-d’Aude along a road shared with motorized traffic to reach the Canal de la Robine at Raonel Lock. From there, a lovely, well-laid-out, signposted greenway leads to Narbonne itself.
26 Le Somail / Capestang
It’s a wrench leaving enchanting Le Somail. Although the port of Sète is a long way off, this is just a short stage to Capestang, signalled by the bell tower of St-Félix Church, which guides you to this village’s central square, where you can enjoy a rest in the shade of the plane trees.