The Canal des Deux Mers (French pronunciation: [kanal de dø mɛʁ]; English: Canal of the Two Seas) has been used to describe two different but similar things since the 1660s. In some cases, it is used interchangeably with the Canal du Midi. In others, it describes the path from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean of which the Canal du Midi was the first artificial component.[1][2]
Route
The route from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean includes, from west to east, in sequence:
- Enter the Gironde estuary from the Atlantic
- Gironde estuary is formed by the confluence of the Dordogne and the Garonne
- Gironde estuary continues into the Garonne
- The river Garonne connects to the Garonne Lateral Canal at Castets-en-Dorthe
- Garonne Lateral Canal terminates in Toulouse and connects to the Canal du Midi
- Canal du Midi begins in Toulouse, and there are two paths available from it to the Mediterranean.
- Path 1 - Turn off Canal du Midi and join the
- Canal de Jonction which connects into the river Aude
- Aude connects to Canal de la Robine
- Canal de la Robine flows into the Mediterranean Sea
- Path 2 - Continue to end of Canal du Midi and continue into the
- Étang de Thau which joins to the Canal du Rhône à Sète
- Canal du Rhône à Sète flows into the Mediterranean Sea
In popular culture
Former performers on The Mary Whitehouse Experience, a 1990s British topical sketch comedy show, Hugh Dennis pedals and David Baddiel e-bikes ("basically, on a moped"[3][4]), on the towpaths and bicycle routes close to the Deux Mers Canal, from Arcachon to Bordeaux, along the Garonne Canal, along the Canal du Midi, to Le Somail, and to Sète, in a travelogue TV series, Two Men on a Bike on More4.[5][6][7][8][9]
References
- ^ Jefferson, David (2009). Through the French Canals. Adlard Coles Nautical. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-4081-0381-4.
- ^ Midi Camargue Waterways Guide 7. Editions Du Breil. ISBN 2-913120-04-0.
- ^ "How Hugh Dennis tricked David Baddiel into a 500km bike ride". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "How David Baddiel's e-bike enabled Two Men On A Bike, his More4 cycling travel show with Hugh Dennis". ebiketips. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
"I was, basically, on a moped," said Baddiel
- ^ "Two Men on a Bike - More4". TVGuide.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
Season 1 Episode 1 of 4...David Baddiel and Hugh Dennis pedal through France. Gearing up for their longest holiday together, they begin in a seaside resort on the Atlantic and head towards Bordeaux.
- ^ "Two Men on a Bike - More4". TVGuide.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
Season 1 Episode 2 of 4...David Baddiel and Hugh Dennis cycle along the Garonne canal.
- ^ "Two Men on a Bike - More4". TVGuide.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
Season 1 Episode 3 of 4...David Baddiel and Hugh Dennis travel along the Canal du Midi.
- ^ "Two Men on a Bike - More4". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 16 March 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
Season 1 Episode 4 of 4...David Baddiel and Hugh Dennis head to the Mediterranean port of Le Somail and take a leisurely boat ride along the Canal du Midi... to the coast and the seaside town of Sète
- ^ Singh, Anita (17 February 2025). "Two Men on a Bike, review: inoffensive viewing for the Lycra-clad centrist dad". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
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