Barge Cruise: Midi - Béziers

Classic barge cruising on the Canal du Midi

Cruise the best-known canal in France on this 6-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). This river boat cruise reveals an endless panorama of soothing scenery and exciting daily adventures. It also offers sumptuous cuisine paired with delicious local wines while you gently float along the Canal du Midi, a magnificent tree-lined waterway and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A typical day consists of a daily excursion, often in the morning, followed by lunch onboard and barging during the afternoon. These excursions uncover hidden jewels of historical or natural interest along with colorful open-air markets, wine tastings, shopping, or cultural fairs and festivals. Simple pleasures, enriching local encounters and quiet relaxation!

  TYPICAL BARGE CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary)

Day 1 - Saturday: Villeneuve-les-Beziers. Arrival at the river boat around 4:30 pm. Shortly after arrival, enjoy the captain's welcome reception with champagne and hors d'oeuvres and presentation of the barge crew. Short cruise to the first evening's mooring place.

Day 2 - Sunday: Regimont-le-Haut. Morning cruise up the canal to the seven locks of Fonséranes (the "stair-step locks") in Beziers. The afternoon cruise lets you enjoy picturesque views of the tree-lined canal as well as the canal's only tunnel at Malpas. You can also enjoy the jacuzzi and sundeck on the barge or perhaps go for a walk along the canal towpath at your leisure. If there is enough time after mooring, we can schedule a private wine tasting at a local chateau near the barge's evening mooring at the farm of Regimont-le-Haut.

Day 3 - Monday: Argeliers. Today will begin with a visit to the Oppidum d'Enserune, a pre-Roman archeological site. This will be followed by cruising the canal to the village of Capestang, where you can enjoy lunch on the deck of the barge with a lovely view of the 13th century church. More relaxing cruising in the afternoon along the meandering canal to our next mooring near the village of Argeliers. You may want to take a short excursion to the village of Quarante with its 1000-year-old Romanesque church.

Day 4 - Tuesday: Homps. After breakfast you're off to the open-air street market in Olonzac, which offers a wide variety of foods, fresh produce and other local goods: Provencal fabrics, books, music, hardware, clothing, etc. Time permitting, you may want to visit the Oulibo olive cooperative for a quick tasting and shop in their regional products boutique or drive up to the picturesque village of Minerve perched on top of a cliff. This is the place where 150 Cathar "heretics" were burned at the stake during the Albigensian Crusade at the beginning of the 13th century. Then return to the barge for lunch, followed by cruising to the nearby village of Homps, with a stop in the picturesque hamlet of Le Somail to visit its famous used and rare bookshop and other artisan boutiques.

Day 5 - Wednesday: Puicheric. Morning visit to Narbonne, founded in 118 BC by the Romans. Highlights: the towering 13th-century Gothic cathedral and the 100-year-old covered market, with its wonderful selection of fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheeses and many other delicacies. You can also enjoy an espresso in the central square with the chariot-rutted paving stones of the Roman road, Via Domitia. Or you can visit the impressive archaeological museum, the fine arts museum, or shop and browse the boutiques along the quaint pedestrian streets. Return to the boat for lunch, followed by cruising through several locks to the village of Puicheric, where the barge will moor for the night.

Day 6 - Thursday: Trèbes. A morning visit to the fortified medieval city of Carcassonne (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is on the schedule this morning. You will certainly be impressed by the size of this formidable fortress city with its thick crenellated walls anchored by some 50 massive towers. You will also admire the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral St. Nazaire with its gorgeous 13th-century rose stained-glass window and enjoy the winding cobbled streets lined with quaint boutiques. Lunch on board the barge and cruise through the "green cathedral" of overarching trees to our next mooring near the village of Trèbes.

Day 7 - Friday: After breakfast, leave the barge and transfer to the departure point for the next leg of your travels.

On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.

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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
  

Included

• Round trip transfers to/from Beziers/Montpellier or Carcassonne depending on direction of cruise
• 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
• Barge crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
• Champagne (except welcome reception), vintage wines and fine liqueurs
• Use of onboard cell phone
• Personal expenses
• Optional activities when available
• Other items not specifically listed under "Included" abov
  

Barge Features

• 3 cabins: can be set up as twin or double (6 passengers)
• 4 crew members
• Size: 100 ft. x 16.6 ft.
• Headroom: 10 ft.
  
• Sundeck and hot tub
• Air conditioning and central heating
  

Cruise Departures

Every Saturday subject to availability (except winter)

This barge can be chartered for groups. Various themes and dates can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group.

A bed and breakfast option with minor itinerary changes is available during the summer for charters. This allows you to buy local products for lunch on board and have dinner in recommended local restaurants.

You may also specify a wine cruise option that includes an introduction to Languedoc wines by a regional expert, with two onshore excursions and an onboard tasting.

For more details on the above options, contact us.

Dates and Prices

Book Your Cruise!

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