Canals brings together the local history of its church, the history of its waterways and an unusual chapter in aviation. There is also an easy cycling route with two different distances. You can choose Canals based on the themes you want to shape your stay: local history or a tour through waterside landscapes.
Canals between the Garonne Valley and the Canal
Canals sits on a terrace above the Garonne Valley. The Canal latéral divides the town into the two districts of Canals haut and Villelongue. The canal’s course therefore also serves as a guide to the layout of the village. The Canal des Deux Mers played a different role: it was dug in Canals in the 17th century. While the Canal latéral marks the town’s division into two, the Canal des Deux Mers points to a historic construction project.
Church, Washhouse and Beacon
The church in Canals belonged to Saint-Sernin Abbey in Toulouse and was incorporated into the new Diocese of Montauban in 1318. Its history is therefore linked to two religious centres: Toulouse and Montauban. At the foot of the church stands the Lavoir Napoléon III, a washhouse dating from the 17th century. Its former use is also specific: laundry was usually rinsed there rather than washed. This makes the lavoir another way to explore local history, alongside the town’s religious connections.
The aeronautical beacon of Canals tells another chapter of the story. From the 1920s onwards, it served as a visual marker for air navigation at night or in fog. Its flashes of light had a range of 80 km. This purpose sets the beacon apart from the town’s religious and everyday traces: it represents orientation from the air, while the church and lavoir bring local history to the fore.
A cycling route with two easy options
The Circuit de canal à Garonne loop starts at the park at the entrance to Canals, on the D820. It takes you through waterside landscapes from the Canal des Deux Mers to the Garonne. Two easy options are listed: 11 km and 19 km. Both are considered easy; the clear difference between them is the distance. The longer option is 8 km longer. This lets you choose the distance you’d like to ride without assuming that the two options differ in difficulty.
The guidebook for the Circuit de canal à Garonne is available at town halls and at the tourist office. Collection options may change, so check in advance what is currently available. The tourist office may also revise the route options, so it’s worth checking the latest route details before setting off.
Getting there and choosing where to stay
The RD820 and RD813 roads run through Canals and make it easier to get there. When deciding whether to visit Canals, consider what matters most to you: would you like to explore the church’s history and the lavoir, or would you like to include the easy cycling route, with a choice of 11 or 19 km? If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Canals, this comparison between local history and the cycling route offers a practical starting point for your plans, without assuming any particular accommodation or amenities.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Loze, Laparrouquial, Touffailles, Montaigu-De-Quercy, Castelsarrasin, Montricoux, Mirabel.
For the broader travel overview: Tarn-Et-Garonne.
