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The Canal du Midi runs through the heart of the Languedoc in the South of France. Less well known than neighbouring Provence, but equally charming, Languedoc is a renowned winemaking region that produces more than a third of the grapes in France. But Languedoc is not all AOC wines, open air markets and foie gras. It's home to some of Europe's oldest and most breathtaking castles. Whether you're inspired by good wine, sunflower fields, charming villages or Medieval fortresses, Languedoc will not disappoint.
The Canal du Midi was constructed by Pierre Paul Riquet and more than 12,000 workers between 1667 and 1681. The 240 km canal joined the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, opening up a prosperous trade route. But, the Canal du Midi's fame was short-lived. When the railway came to France just 150 years later in 1832, canal traffic declined. Today the Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tourist attraction, though still a hidden gem.
Boutique Hotel Barges is pleased to represent 8 luxury barges cruising in the Languedoc and on Canal du Midi: Athos du Midi, Colibri, Roi Soleil, Tango, Saraphina, Enchanté.
Not every location listed below is included in a single week's barge cruise. Check the itinerary for your vessel and cruise date of choice for the visits scheduled for your group.
Agde is a town with 2,600 years worth of history and is a place where fresh and salt water mingle, where the River Hérault and the Canal du Midi meet the Mediterranean. Come and wander through its shopping streets and shady walks.
Agde is a town of Greek origin and has a maritime history. It used to be called 'Good Fortune' and is situated on the banks of the Hérault river and at the foot of the Mont Saint-Loup, the last spur of the Auvergne volcano chain. This geological feature makes its architecture unique in the region: basalt is ever-present in all its buildings.
Argeliers is a small rural village located approximately 25 minutes inland from the Mediterranean, directly between the cities of Beziers and Narbonne.
As part of the Midi micro-climate, Argeliers is surrounded by olive groves, fruit orchards, and many vineyards. The village is also noteworthy for its location on the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO world heritage site only a 5-minute walk down the road from the Barn.
Man has lived in Beziers, a charming small city on Southern France, for over six millennia for a reason. Stroll along the café-lined and tree-lined Allées Paul Riquet. Gaze up at the majestic Cathedrale Saint Nazaire, which can be seen on its hilltop perch from almost anywhere in the city. Marvel at the rose-tinted wrought iron balconies.
The city is worth a visit to gaze upon its ancient bridge and hilltop cathedral, one of the prettier views (from atop or below) in France.
The delightful little town of Capestang lies in the south of France, on the Canal du Midi and not far from the Mediterranean Sea. Its privileged position in the sunny south makes it a magnet for holiday makers, yet Capestang has never relinquished its original and authentic charm, and earns its place in the history books as much as it earns its place in the holiday guides.
Capestang has a majestic yet unfinished church, which soars above the rooftops of the houses. Being so imposing you can't help but notice it, but it really is worth setting aside some time to take a look inside. Capestang has some ancient and interesting houses too, and just wandering through the pretty meandering streets is a history lesson in itself.
Step back several centuries and imagine yourself in medieval times. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Cite at Carcassonne is a painstakingly restored medieval walled city on a hill by the Aude River. You'll half-expect to see armed lookouts manning the fortified city's towers. Cross the river to La Bastide neighborhood for all the charms of a French country town. Read more about Carcassonne on the BHB Blog.
Castelnaudary is a town in the Aude department of Languedoc-Roussillon, between Toulouse and Carcassonne. A pleasant town to explore, the most interesting part of the town for visitors centres around a large port area on the canal du Midi called the Grand Bassin. Historically Castelnaudary is said to have been the birthplace of the cathars, a religious movement popular in the south of France in the 12th century until it was brutally suppressed by the Albigensian crusade.
More importantly, Castelnaudary is also said to be the birthplace of cassoulet, the delicious local dish made primarily from confit de canard and white beans. Be sure to try it in a restaurant when you are travelling near Castelnaudary, it is one of the highlights of traditional French cuisine and in the town itself there are a lot of restaurants offering cassoulet on the menu.
The étang de Montady, the "pond of Montady", is a drained "lagoon" or more accurately a former freshwater wetland that is popularly said to have been "constructed by the Visigoths" but was realised by monks during the second half of the 13th century, under authorization of the archbishop of Narbonne. The étang de Montady is near Colombiers, midway between Béziers and Narbonne, in the western department of Hérault, in southern France.
The area was drained by making radial ditches from a single center point out to the extremities. The water flows to this center point and is then drained through an underground culvert and through the Malpas hill and under the Malpas Tunnel of the Canal du Midi. The field plots are of a triangular configuration due to the radial lines from the center.
The fact that the drain for Montady went through Malpas encouraged Pierre-Paul Riquet, the designer of the Canal du Midi, that he could build a tunnel through the same hill for his canal.
The Montady farming area can be seen from the Oppidum d'Ensérune.
Fonserannes is best known for the Fonserannes Lock which is a staircase lock on the Canal du Midi near Beziers, in southern France. It consists of eight ovoid lock chambers (characteristic of the Canal du Midi) and nine gates, which allow boats to be raised a height of 21.5 m, in a distance of 300 m.
Traditional buildings such as the stables and the lock keeper's house still remain. These and the locks have made the Fonserannes Lock the third most popular tourist destination in Languedoc-Roussillon, after the Pont du Gard and the town of Carcassonne.
Marseillan is one of the picturesque villages on the Etang de Thau in Languedoc-Roussillon, east of Beziers. Once an active fishing port, its principal activity now revolves around its position at the end of the Canal du Midi (a world heritage site).
Narbonne, France is a charming small city in the Languedoc, featuring wonderful historic attractions as well as a relaxing beach along the Mediterranean.
The heart of Narbonne, once a key port for the Roman Empire, is the dramatic Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. Also be sure to stroll through the village's old town, where you can't miss the main attraction: Cathedrale Saint-Just.
The most dominant building in this neighborhood, the 13th century church connects to the Palais des Archevêques, which has an ornately carved 130-meter keep.
Sète is the most fascinating small town on the French Mediterranean coast precisely because it doesn't go out of its way to be charming. It doesn't have the time. This is an attractive — but serious — port full of working people with stuff to ship out and turbot to sell. Read more about Sète on the BHB Blog.