Pont-Canal du Canal de Garonne
Completed in 1843, Agen's canal bridge carries the Canal de Garonne across the Garonne river on 23 graceful stone arches stretching 539 metres — one of the longest canal aqueducts in France. Walking its flat towpath gives you a view that is simultaneously industrial, Romantic and utterly photogenic.
The crossing and the panorama
From the towpath you look down at the wide, green Garonne flowing beneath you while narrowboats glide silently at your feet on the canal above it — two waterways at two different levels, separated only by the width of a stone arch. The effect is quietly surreal and endlessly photographic, especially in the golden hour before sunset when the stone turns amber.
The best panoramic viewpoint is from the south bank of the Garonne, looking north toward the aqueduct with the old town skyline and the Cathedral of Saint-Caprais visible behind it. Walk down to the riverside path (Chemin de Halage) on the right bank for the classic wide-angle composition.
Walking the towpath and cycling onward
The pont-canal is part of the Voie Verte, a long-distance cycling and walking greenway that follows the Canal de Garonne all the way to Toulouse in one direction and Bordeaux in the other. Even a short 3-kilometre stroll east along the towpath toward the lock at Bon-Encontre gives you a tranquil, tree-lined escape from the city that feels miles removed from urban life.
Bicycle rental is available from several outlets in central Agen (including Agen Vélos), making a half-day canal ride one of the most rewarding ways to spend an afternoon. The towpath is flat, well-surfaced and suitable for all fitness levels.
Pont-Canal du Canal de Garonne on video
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