A weeklong oneway cruise that takes in most of our canal du midi cruising region, all. First, she says, its important to decide whether canal cruising is the right choice at all. Essentials for your luggage include insect repellent and afterbite. The canal du midi runs for 240km from the river garonne at toulouse via carcassonne to the mediterranean at agde. A practical and intimate kilometerbykilometer guide to the canal du midi and related waterways. Locks and lines while cruising the canal du midi waggoner. Cruising the canal du midi is a bucket list destination for empty nesters wanting to enjoy the french countryside, sipping wine and eating artisan cheese at a relaxed, unhurried pace, away from crowds. The type of river cruise were looking for is a private cruise.
Oct 29, 20 just returned from a week on canal du midi from carcassonne trebes to narbonne return, with le boat. Canal du midi boat barge hire boating holidays canal du midi. As well as travel by road and by water, most of the large towns along the. This is one of the most important questions about barge cruising. Le boats cruising destinations that every wino must visit. Explore frances wine country like a boss on your own private vessel. There is something very special about the canal du midi, something that simply. Posted 3 years ago by christian blondeau life in the slow lane. The driving distance between marseillan and argeliers is 55 minutes. Cruising the canal du midi aboard the athos luxury barge.
A useful companion to our trip on the canal du midi. Canal du midi cruises sail through rolling countryside and canal side vineyards all under the dappled shade of plane trees lining the canal. Hello, im about to book my first canal boat trip to the canal du midi in june very excited. Cruising down the canal du midi, frances rediscovered. Linking the bay of biscay with the mediterranean, it is not only renowned for its. The canal du midi was constructed by 12,000 workers in the 17th century to let cargo barges take a short cut from the mediterranean to the atlantic.
When is the best time to go on a barge cruise in france. According to le boat information book there was a market. A guide to wines along the canal du midi canal cruising in the south of france. We entered the village which felt like a ghost town and asked at the bakers where the market was.
The canal du midi descends from a summit east of toulouse to the. The best was getting off the canal onto the hired bikes and riding to the. I recently went on a trip on the athos hotel barge on the canal du midi in the south of france. An expert is giving advise about sailing locaboat blog. This cruising the canal du midi guide will help you plan your bucket list vacation. We recommend booking canal du midi tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Jul 10, 2019 top tips for cruising the canal du midi. A bonus for those cruising in april are the value season prices which can save significantly making this a good option for value conscious travelers. Our classic canal du midi cruise takes place aboard our pretty 8 passenger vessel anjodi, which has been cruising in the region for more than 25 years. Disembark to stroll charming pezenas, peruse narbonnes vibrant indoor market and explore ancient minerve. Nov 27, 2018 the canal du midi guide helps plan a bucket list vacation for empty nesters wanting to enjoy the french countryside, sipping wine and eating artisan cheese at a relaxed, unhurried pace, away from crowds. French waterways rivers canal navigation guide book. Topped with flat roofs that double as sun decks, long, narrow canal barges were designed more for shipping than speed. Canal maps, books, pdf downloads and navigation guides.
Canal du midi cruises candid tips by authority howard. It meanders between toulouse and sete in southern france for a distance of 240 kilometers 150 miles. Also a great day out for photographers and nonsketching partners. Canal du midi boat hire customers come back here year after year they know theres so much to explore, its hard to know which way to steer to take it all in. The canal du midi links the atlantic ocean to the mediterranean sea and is a protected world heritage site. He has that right life is beautiful on frances canal du midi. You could drive in an hour the entire route that a barge cruises in a week, sack explains. Canal cruising along the canal du midi in southern france. The canal du midi is probably the most popular canal in france. Enjoy life aboard anjodi as you cruise the historic canal du midi, a unesco world heritage site dating from the 17th century. Home to flora and fauna, rural vistas, and lush vineyards, a canal du midi cruise features a romantic and idyllic waterway, perfect for luxury barging. Here he gives us the benefit of his expert tips for a first experience of selfdrive boat hire.
If you can i suggest you photocopy the maps you intend to used, put them in plastic sleeves and use those for navigating at the helm. Cruising down the canal du midi, frances rediscovered wonder. Sep 15, 2009 if you intend cruising the canal du midi this book is a must. Anjodi has never been more popular since rick stein brought her to the attention of the world in his very successful bbc tv series french odyssey. Breathe in the relaxation and warmth and light of the mediterranean, as you navigate along the 300 year old canal du midi, meandering inland, lined with plane trees and cruise under superb arched bridges, linking ancient villages, miles of vineyards and roman fortifications. Listed as a unesco world heritage site, the canal du midi is also one of the worlds most famous locations for boating holidays.
Ralph folsom and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Book your tickets online for canal du midi, occitanie. Trebes, homps, ventenac, paraza, marseillette and capestang offer much for wine connoisseurs. Enjoy a wine tasting at chateau pechceleyran and dinner ashore at a local bistro in beziers. My family are looking forward to next week because by then i might just put the book down and start talking to them again. A cruisers guide first edition by bernd w kiessler isbn. Cruise the canal du midi aboard hotel barge anjodi. As well as indulging in the fabulous cuisine of the. We are going to book a river cruise in france and are wondering if there are things we should keep in mind while booking. Posted by guy hibbert for france today on february 6, 2017. It runs right between the mediterranean sea and the atlantic ocean.
Our pick of the domains to visit whilst on holiday in the languedoc. Canal du midi boat barge hire boating holidays canal. History of reims cathedral and the kings of france. Cruising the canal du midi, france travel to wellness. Le boat is a trading name of crown travel limited, crown travel limited registered in england no 02095375. Sep 06, 2016 take in the laidback charm of beautiful canal du midi bathed in warm sunshine for most of the year, a cruise along the canal du midi, a unesco world heritage site, is the perfect holiday choice. User praise for canal cruising, guide to the canal du midi. Cruise on the enchante on the canal du midi cruise critic. We used this book as a guide at least four of five times daily, referring to it as ralph. Rather than straight walls, like the locks in seattle, the midi locks are oval in shape, providing strength for the stone block construction.
The boat had everything we needed including comfy beds without sweaty plastic covers and sharp knives. Canal du midi occitanie updated april 2020 top tips. It was back in 1996 that denis ravy discovered locaboat and canal cruises along the canal du midi. On your canal du midi cruise, tour vineyards, visit wine caves and taste free samples. User praise for canal cruising many thanks for your splendid book it contains a wealth of information and i particularly like its readable style. Spending time chatting with corey in the wheelhouse as he steered the esperance was always a treat and receiving impromptu table setting tips from helen added immeasurably to the onboard fun. Hiring your own holiday boat is an ideal way to explore and experience the pleasures and treasures that the canal du midi has to offer. Nestled in the languedoc wine region, the canal du midi is an ideal location for wine tasting holidays.
Were being coddled in some of frances best scenery, plus, aboard our selfskippered yacht, we have the adventuresome aspect of working our way through. Canal du midi detailed navigation guide and maps french. Burgundy is really not that far from paris and very easy to reach. Canal du midi cruising by a le boat clients france at leisure. Canal boating on the canal du midi, languedocroussillon. Cruising on the canal du midi is a relaxing and restorative holiday from start to finish. Take in the laidback charm of beautiful canal du midi bathed in warm sunshine for most of the year, a cruise along the canal du midi, a unesco. Apr 16, 2014 it was back in 1996 that denis ravy discovered locaboat and canal cruises along the canal du midi. The canal du midi is a unesco world heritage site, and it has a truly fascinating history. This guide to cruising the canal du midi will help you plan your bucket list vacation. For trips such as this, consider along the nivernais canal in burgundy or the canal du midi in languedoc.
The canal du midis hidden gems, mustsee towns, and signature attractions come alive thanks to rex, the esperances popular tour guide. The book is quite small and does not lie flat which means having the map page for the bit you are currently cruising is difficult. Visit the walled city of carcassonne, the most complete. While our pick up and drop off point was in beziers, our trip started in marseillan and ended in argeliers. A canal du midi cruise aboard barge esperance barge lady. Boating holidays in canal du midi free quote le boat. The citadel of carcassonne, a journey into history. But as you cruise along the canal, you can go past these wonders without even noticing them. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Book a river cruise in france rick steves travel forum. If you intend cruising the canal du midi this book is a must. Updated in 2018 by davis folsom, kathy folsom, et al. For those bargees wanting warmer weather in early spring, cruises on the canal du midi in the south of france can have a drier mediterranean climate.
Want to sit out on deck with a good book and a glass of sav blanc. We had some good food and average food, good wine and average wine, fantastic hot days and a couple of drizzly ones. Canal du midi cruises candid tips by authority howard hillman. Canal du midi cruises hotel barges and selfdrive boats. Boating vacation is a perfect way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the french waterways. Canal cruising in the south of france the romantic canal du midi is a practical and intimate kilometerbykilometer guide to the canal du midi and related waterways. Boasting of a picturesque canal side, many people enjoy having picnics or cycling down the canal side and hogging on the food available at the many stalls. Anjodi is of classic dutch design, specifically rebuilt to negotiate the 330yearold canal du midi. There are 91 locks along the canal du midi, covering 240 km over 149 miles. Only the busy locks at trebes stay open during the summer months at lunch. It was absolutely amazing and so different from any other cruise ive ever taken i have yet to take a river cruise, but ive taken many ocean cruises. The canal du midi, designed and built by pierrepaul riquet in 16621681, is a remarkable work of engineering, justifying its inclusion in the unesco world heritage list in 1996, and one of the most popular cruising waterways in france. Whats really like selfchartering on the canal du midi.
If you are cruising down to beziers, consider mooring at the top or bottom of the locks of fonserannes if you want to walk or cycle into beziers for sightseeing. The canal du midi is approximately a 240 kms long canal in the south of france. Le boat is a member of the travelopia group calls from uk landlines cost the standard rate, but calls from mobiles may be higher. Every year for almost 20 years, this company boss has faithfully returned to his post at the wheel of a locaboat. A lock by lock, village by town description of how to navigate this waterway, and what to expect when cruising this. Typically, these companies have buses available to take you to local points of interest when they are near but too far to walk. You can cruise the justly famous world heritage canal du midi and its locality piloting your own selfdrive hire boat, or being pampered in fine style aboard a luxury hotel barge. The canal du midi guide helps plan a bucket list vacation for empty nesters wanting to enjoy the french countryside, sipping wine and eating artisan cheese at a relaxed, unhurried pace, away from crowds. This handysized guidebook has all the information boaters need to navigate the canal, and is packed with cruising and background information about each stage. For a wonderful companion book on the best wine tasting, wines and vintages of the region, consider wine cruising. Nov 20, 2009 if you intend cruising the canal du midi this book is a must. Examples of boats were considering can be found on this website.
We had four bicycles onboard and the towpath, originally used for horses to pull the barges, makes an ideal cycling path. Im currently doing some research to find the best guide. Cruising down the canal du midi, frances rediscovered wonder by lily heise winding through the picturesque countryside and vineyards of southwest france, the canal du midi is one of europes oldest canals still in operation. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Top tips for visitors buying a good guide book is a great idea and most will give you ideas for cafes. Relax and learn to sketch in style whilst cruising the canal du midi. Cruising the canal du midi le boat australia youtube. A guide to wines along the canal du midi in southern france by kathy and davis folsom available as an e book at. Its creator, pierrepaul riquet, designed the canal du midi and it was built between. Canal du midi cruises sail through rolling countryside and canalside vineyards all under the dappled shade of plane trees lining the canal.
Embark on a journey along sections of the canal du midi aboard the enchanting hotel barge, anjodi, famous for taking rick stein on his 400 mile french food exploration in the tv series rick steins french odyssey. A guests adventure on the canal du midi aboard athos. Along with cruising, one of the sublime pleasures of the trip is pedaling. Its a 360 km network of waterways linking the mediterranean and the atlantic through 328 structures, including locks, bridges, and tunnels. When is the best time to book a barge cruise in france.
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