Cruise the Canal du Midi
Destination: France
Activity: Barges, Culinary/Wine
Duration: 7 days
How Tough? Easy
When? April-May, July, September-November
For Kids? Children Are Welcome
The 300-year old Canal du Midi skirts the sun-bathed shores of the Mediterranean before winding inland through ancient villages toward the famed wine region of Bordeaux.
You stay on Athos, the largest hotel barge on the Canal du Midi. The barge has comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and showers, air conditioning and heating, a warmly decorated saloon and dining areas, a large sun deck for loungers and bicycles on board for trips along the towpaths or for exploration of a nearby village.
On this historic route, you discover an intriguing blend of Gallo-Roman and traditional French influences. The cuisine is a mixture of delectable Provençal and traditional flavors. You enjoy gourmet meals on board or dine ashore.
You visit Narbonne, a Roman Mediterranean capital and former home of the Visigoth Monarchs. Stroll the palace and Horreum. Shop in the indoor market and take in the atmosphere of this bustling Midi town.
Make an early morning visit to Lezignan market, with exuberant street life and vivid characters. Enjoy a wine-tasting of full-bodied Corbieres at the 17th-century Chateau Voulte Gasparets.
Tour Plan
Between the historic city of Carcassonne and the Mediterranean fishing village of Marseillan. Daily excursions will be offered and conducted by our guide. These include:
Carcassone: A morning visit to the largest, fortified, medieval city in Europe. Plenty of time for sight-seeing and shopping.
Narbonne: Once the capital of the Roman province, it is now a famous market town dominated by the Cathedral of St. Just, the fourth tallest in France. Next to this is the former Archbishop’s Palace housing a museum of antiquities. The Mediterranean sea is close by for swimming and, when available, other water sports.
Minerve: Surrounded by deeply carved gorges the village sustained a siege by Simon de Montfort in 1210 A.D. where 200 Carthare heretics were burned in front of the church. Today the inhabitants of this ancient village continue to cultivate grapes for one of Southern France’s most popular wines.
Oppidum D’Enserune: You will disembark from the Athos at the Malpas Tunnel (the first canal tunnel in the world) and go to Enserune. Founded in the 6th century BC, it was a thriving trade center until the Middle Ages. The museum houses pottery and artefacts pre-dating the Greek peroid. From the Oppidum, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pyrenees.
Abbey de Fontfroide “Jewel of the Corbieres”: South of the Canal lie the Corbiere mountains, an area famous for wine production. Located Deep in the region, this 11th century abbey has a serene atmosphere with unadorned architecture.
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