Barging in France: River and Canal Barge Cruises on the Canal du Midi, Carcassonne, France


	Barge Cruises, River Cruises and Train Tours in France, Spain and Portugal

CRUISE
DESTINATIONS

~ Barge Cruises in France ~
Midi - Carcassonne I

World-class barging in the south of France

Cruise through southwestern France on board a luxury 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 World Heritage Site.

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 up" 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 canal towpath if you feel energetic or simple relaxation on the deck of the barge while watching the world glide by. Every day is a different experience.

Meanwhile the barge's onboard chef 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, gourmet food and fun discoveries!

TYPICAL CRUISE ITINERARIES

This cruise offers two different itineraries centered on Carcassonne and one itinerary between Beziers and Aigues Mortes:

Carcassonne - Beziers

Carcassonne - Toulouse

Beziers - Aigues Mortes - Contact us for details.

Cruise Route	2012 Departure Dates
Beziers - Carcassonne	Mar 31, Apr 14 & 28, May 26 Jun 9 & 23, Jul 21, Aug 4 & 18 Sep 1, 15 & 29, Oct 13
Carcassonne - Beziers	Apr 7 & 21, May 19 Jun 2, 16 & 30, Jul 28, Aug 11 & 25 Sep 8 & 22, Oct 6 & 20
Beziers - Aigues Mortes	Jul 7
Aigues Mortes - Beziers	Jul 14
Carcassonne - Toulouse Toulouse - Carcassonne	May 5 and on request

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CARCASSONNE TO BEZIERS

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. The mooring for this evening overlooks the village and is ideal for a stroll before your first gourmet dinner on board the barge.

Day 2 - Sunday. After breakfast, it's off 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, cruise to the little village of Puicheric with a view of the Alaric Mountains. Enjoy a walk around the lock-keeper's garden filled with unusual wooden sculptures and back to the barge for another delightful dinner.

Day 3 - Monday. This morning you'll travel 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 the barge's mooring place for tonight. The Jouarres Lake is nearby, so if you want to go for a swim, bring your swim suit. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 4 - Tuesday. The 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 you'll 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 you'll 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. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 5 - Wednesday. Narbonne is today's destination. 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, cruise to the charming little village of Le Somail for the 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 on the barge.

Day 6 - Thursday. This morning, 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 cruise on to Capestang for lunch, passing under the smallest bridge in France. The afternoon cruise takes your 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. Farewell dinner on board the barge.

Day 7 - Friday. After breakfast, you will be taken from the barge to your departure point for your onward journey.

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

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CARCASSONNE TO TOULOUSE

Day 1 - Saturday. Meet your guide at a pre-arranged departure point and travel by minibus to the barge, which will be moored in the port of Trebes. Time to settle in and unpack. Enjoy a champagne reception while cruising through the vineyards through two locks to Leveque. Your onboard chef will serve your first gourmet meal, accompanied by local wines.

Day 2 - Sunday. This morning's tour will take you either to the walled city of Carcassonne or over the Alaric Mountains to the medieval village of Lagrasse. The town is known for its beautiful bridges over the River Orbeil, its 14th-century abbey, and its fabulous pottery, wooden and leather craft shops and art galleries. Return to the barge for lunch. Put your feet up and relax during your afternoon cruise through four locks to Herminis. Have a stroll through the vineyards, bicycle along the towpath or just sit and have a glass of local wine and read a book on the barge while your gourmet dinner is prepared.

Day 3 - Monday. After breakfast, your guide will take you to Limoux, home of the famous sparkling wine. Enjoy a tasting, then continue on to Rennes le Chateau. If you have read Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code, you will remember the story of the local priest who mysteriously became very wealthy. This is a very interesting visit, through beautiful scenery, but keep an eye out for the lost treasure.
After lunch, cruise to the village of Bram, founded by the Romans and later a center of the Cathar sect. It is known as a circulade because it expanded in concentric circles. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 4 - Tuesday. From Bram this morning, you will pass through the rolling plains of the Lauragais, with fields of sunflowers in summer and views of the snow-capped mountains on clear days, to the town of Mirepoix. On the way, stop by Fanjeaux, home of St Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order. Mirepoix is renowned for its wooden columns surrounding the main market square, its half-timbered houses and its cathedral. After lunch, your captain will gently guide the barge along the canal, going through several locks to moor in the lovely Lauragais countryside. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 5 - Wednesday. This morning, enjoy a leisurely cruise to the town of Castelnaudary, about 30 miles southeast of Toulouse. After lunch, your guide will take you on a tour of the town, which is famous for its cassoulet, a regional specialty stew of beans with pork, goose, duck, and/or mutton. You can visit the Grand Bassin, a major pleasure port on the Canal du Midi; the Gothic Collegiale with its bell tower; the 17th-century Moulin de Cugarel (windmill); the vestiges of the Presidial; and the Chapelle Notre Dame de la Pitié with its magnificent gold-covered wood sculptures depicting ten episodes in the life of Christ. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 6 - Thursday. Leave Castelnaudary this morning and continue cruising to the Seuil de Narouze, the highest point on the Canal du Midi. From here, it descends toward the Atlantic Ocean on one side and toward the Mediterranean Sea on the other. On this afternoon's tour, you'll learn the history of the Canal du Midi, a true marvel of 17th-century engineering. Return to the barge for your final gala dinner prepared by your personal chef.

Day 7 - Friday. After breakfast, you will be taken from the barge to your departure point for your onward journey.

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

Other routes are possible, including Beziers to Aigues Mortes. Contact us for details.

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Included

Round trip transfers to/from pre-arranged points within a 30-mile radius from location of barge
Accommodations with private bath or shower
Full Board: All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7, including wine with lunch and dinner and open bar
Half Board: Breakfast and dinner daily, including wine with dinner (bar drinks are extra)
Private guide and air conditioned minibus
Sightseeing tours and entrance fees (fees are included with Full Board only)

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 as specified, vintage wines and fine liqueurs
Personal expenses
Optional activities when available
Other items not specifically listed under "Included" above

Barge Features