The major tourist attraction here is Narbonne Cathedral. To ensure the future appearance of the Canal du Midi, a huge replanting operation is currently underway, with thousands of new trees being planted to preserve the character of the canal for years to come. Home to flora and fauna, rural vistas, and lush vineyards, a Canal du Midi cruise features a romantic and idyllic waterway, perfect for … Canal du Midi cruising is hugely popular, let us inspire you... See more ideas about canal du midi, cathar, waterway. Savour the slow easy pace of travel, past lush vineyards as you discover the Canal du Midi from the unique perspective of your self-drive cruiser. Hotel barges often collect and return guests to a pre-agreed Toulouse or Narbonne hotel. Castelnaudary is a market town and home of the cassoulet (a heavy stew of duck, Toulouse sausage and haricot beans). This 330-year-old waterway skirts the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through ancient villages, Roman fortifications and famed vineyards. Skip to content. Had great food and wine at many little villages on the way. The resort of Cap d’Agde also has some of Languedoc’s best beaches, which is why it is home to Europe’s largest naturist colony! And at Agde (founded by the Ancient Greeks in 500BC) it is possible to sail upstream from the unique round lock along 10km of the calm, clear and ‘secret’ River Herault. Canal du Midi: Cruising the Canal du Midi - See 1,053 traveler reviews, 1,225 candid photos, and great deals for Occitanie, France, at Tripadvisor. Trèbes, Homps, Ventenac, Paraza, Marseillette and Capestang offer much for wine connoisseurs! In fact, it wasn’t until 1667 that construction actually began, under the reign of Louis XIV. From Toulouse, the Canal du Midi takes you through one of France's most fascinating regions to the mediterranean coast and the Camargue. There are moorings and facilities placed at regular intervals, often with electricity and water and sometimes even showers and a laundry. Pezenas’ claim to fame is that the playwright, Moliere, settled here for a few years during the time of the 14 th C Languedoc Court. Essential navigation guides, maps and books from publishers Breil, Fluviacarte and Imray. We waited patiently for an engineer to arrive. Cruising at our own pacea relaxing morning on the boat The canal comprises 328 structures including aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, and locks. However, it wasn’t until two centuries later, when his canal was linked to the Canal du Garonne, that Riquet’s dream of reaching the Atlantic was fulfilled. It’s a cruise that joined six of us together for seven days and six nights. As well as the famous round lock, Agde is known for the distinctive black basalt used in its local buildings. Toulouse is France’s fourth largest city and home to the European aerospace industry. Here you will find some nice places to eat and a fabulous second hand bookshop which was transported brick by brick from Paris. Read More, Head to the historic Canal du Midi for fine wines and mountainous views aboard Anjodi or Enchanté Read More, A fantastic insider experience aboard Anjodi in the Canal du Midi is this wonderful sampling of Fresh Oysters at a local seafront farm, paired with a glass of wine and... Read More, Whether you’re a tennis ace or a cycling superstar, make the most of the summer’s biggest sporting events on a specialist themed cruise. Share on Facebook. See more ideas about Canal du midi, Canal, Cruise. The whole length of the Midi Canal is filled with incredibly beautiful yet serene views that will make you fall in love with the South of France. Europe ; France ; Occitanie ; Occitanie - Things to Do ; Canal du Midi; Search. Many naysayers told Riquet that the canal would not have sufficient water to operate but not only were they wrong but the canal has been operating since 1681. Barge cruising on the Midi Canal will give you a unique and enriching France experience with Mediterranean flavors, and to ensure that happens with the wholeness of the experience we offer the following dedicatedly-crafted Canal Du Midi Cruises itineraries. Toulouse has a large international airport with many operators flying direct. Narbonne also has a good nearby beach area. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our, Classic Cruise – Avignon to Marseillan (20 & 27 June, 2021 ), A Canal Du Midi Holiday – Exploring this Mediterranean Gem, A Taste of the Languedoc – Oysters on the Côte d’Azur, A Summer of Sport: Cruising Options for Active Bargers, Anjodi – An Authentically French Film Star Experience, Tour and Taste the Tantalising Produce of the Château de Perdiguier, To Avignon aboard Anjodi – A New Itinerary. Self-drive or self-captained boats allow you the freedom to create your itinerary and explore the uniqueness of the Canal du Midi at your own pace. Inside it has a classic yacht-style finish with sumptuous hardwoods and gleaming brass portholes but with comfortable sofas and a dining table for all 8 passengers. Tweet on Twitter “La vie est belle,” notes one of my companions as we sip wine and cruise a gentle waterway. If you are self-driving your boat, getting (and reading in advance) a pilot guide book is strongly recommended. 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