Cruise across the south of France on board a 6-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). Slowly wind your way along the Canal du Midi, a marvel of a waterway built during the reign of Louis XIV (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to boot!).
A barge cruise is a step back from modern pressures to a slow pace that lets you enjoy the comforts of vacationing in style while "soaking in" the local culture. Here's a short list of possible daily activities: visits to quaint villages and country chateaus, wine tastings where the grapes are grown, shopping at colorful local markets, walks along the towpath if you feel energetic or simple relaxation on the deck while watching the world glide by. Every day is a different experience!
Meanwhile the cook is busy in the galley, preparing gourmet meals to be served with a selection of splendid wines from the surrounding Languedoc-Roussillon region. Easy living, savory food and fun discoveries! Below is a typical itinerary (actual program may vary).
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Saturday - You are picked up in Carcassonne and join the barge at Trebes for a short cruise while enjoying a welcome champagne reception. Our mooring for this evening overlooks the village and is ideal for a stroll before your first gourmet dinner on board.
Day 2: Sunday - Off we go to explore the biggest fortified city in Europe, Carcassonne. Although dating from the time of Charlemagne, it has been extensively restored and looks imposing and magnificent. You can walk along the ramparts, visit the Chateau Comptal, shop in the boutiques lining the cobbled streets, visit galleries and museums and get a feel of everyday life in the Middle Ages. In the afternoon, we cruise to the little village of Puicheric with a view of the Alaric Mountains. Enjoy a walk around the lock-keeper's garden filed with unusual wooden sculptures and back to the barge for another gastronomic treat.
Day 3: Monday - This morning we journey up into the Black Mountains to Caunes in the region of the Minervois and visit the quarry of red marble that provided materials for Louis XIV's palace in Versailles. The giant underground cave at Cabresprine (so big the Eiffel Tower would fit in it, with room to spare) is another stop on today's visit. Homps, with its replica of the basilica of Lourdes, is on the afternoon schedule and will be our mooring for tonight. The Jouarres Lake is nearby, so if you want to go for a swim, bring your bathing suit.
Day 4: Tuesday - Our first stop today is Olonzac with its open air market full of local produce from the surrounding countryside: cheeses, olives, homemade jams, pottery and colorful fabrics. Then we head up into the hills to Minerve, a medieval village perched on a spectacular rocky outcrop carved by the rivers Cesse and Brian. This small village is famous for its Cathar history and its sweet wine. After lunch we cruise through a particularly beautiful section of the Canal du Midi, with a series of double and single locks, lined with plane trees and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
Day 5: Wednesday - Narbonne is our destination today. Once the capital of ancient Gaul, the Roman influence is still visible in the old road dating back to 118 BC and the underground stores called the Horreum. It is now a bustling town with chic boutiques, street cafes and a covered market that overflows with the smells and colors of all the local produce for which the Midi is renowned. Narbonne is dominated by its 12th-century cathedral and the archbishop's palace. In the afternoon, we cruise to the charming little village of Le Somail for our evening mooring. Visit the antique bookshop, admire the old ice house and church on either side of the humpback bridge over the canal, or have a stroll through the vineyards before dinner.
Day 6: Thursday - This morning, we visit the olive oil factory of Oulibo. There you can sample different types of olives and oils and other byproducts such as soap, hand cream and the beautiful bowls and implements made from olive wood. Then on to Capestang for lunch, passing under the smallest bridge in France. Our afternoon cruise takes us to Poilhes. The Oppidum d'Ensérune is but a short drive away. This hilltop settlement, which dates back to pre-Christian times, overlooks the magnificent Etang de Montady with a 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside. The museum houses many artifacts dating from that time, and the remains of the dwellings give an insight into this early civilization.
Day 7: Friday - After breakfast, we must say our farewells before you are taken to your departure point for your onward journey.
On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.
Highlights:
- The fortified city of Carcassonne
- The plane-tree-shaded Canal du Midi
- The 7 locks of Fonséranes (the "stair-step locks")
- Hilltop village of Minerve
- Pre-Roman Oppidum d'Enserune
- Malpas tunnel
- Ancient city of Narbonne
- Gourmet meals and local wines
- Quaint and picturesque humpback stone bridges
Barge Features:
- 3 Cabins (6 passengers)
- Crew: husband and wife team plus 1 crew member
- Size: 92 ft. x 15 ft.
- Sundeck
- Air conditioning and central heating
2008 Schedule: Departures every Saturday subject to availability (except winter)
Mar 22 - Oct 25: Carcassonne to/from Beziers (see above) except on the following departure dates:
May 24: Carcassonne to Narbonne
May 31: Narbonne to Beziers
Jun 7: Beziers to Aigues-Mortes
Jun 14: Aigues-Mortes to Beziers
Sep 6: Beziers to Aigues-Mortes
Sep 13: Aigues-Mortes to Beziers
This barge can be chartered for groups. Various themes and dates can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group. Extra customized trips and excursions may be added before or after the cruise.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
US$3750 per person double occupancy; single supplement $750.
Included:
- Round trip transfers to/from pre-arranged points within a 50 km radius from location of barge
- Accommodations with private bath or shower
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
- Wine with lunch and dinner
- Onboard bar drinks
- Private guide and air conditioned minibus
- Sightseeing tours and entrance fees as specified
Not Included:
- Transportation to and from beginning and end points. (Optional transfer to and from Paris is available.)
- Health and travel insurance
- Crew gratuities
- Champagne, vintage wines and fine liqueurs
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities when available
- Other items not specifically listed under "Included" above
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Barging
Food & Wine
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