Itinerary #1
Beziers to Carcassonne
Sunday - Poilhes
Guests are met by the Captain, Earl. Between 4 and 5 PM at the arrange meeting point. Warm welcome on board with aperitifs, and cruise slowly overlooking the vineyards near the Roman village of Poilhes, to whet your appetites for dinner aboard and the days to come.
Monday - Poilhes to La Croisade
Morning visit to the Enserune Oppidum, a site inhabited by man since 800BC. After lunch aboard we cruise past Capestang. A small town dominated by a huge church that we can see for some kilometres as the canal meanders along. From here we cruise on towards La Croisade and a beautiful mooring beneath the trees.
Tuesday - La croisade to Le Somail
The bustling markets and the historic sites of Narbonne are on offer for today's excursion; Earl takes you ashore for lunch today. In the afternoon we cruise to Le Somail, a staging post that was used by passenger boats in the 18th century. The village is pretty and one must visit the antique bookshop.
Wednesday - Le Somail to Homps
The Abbey de Fontfroids is a beautiful tranquil setting and with its garden of 3000 rosebushes, a wonderful place to visit. We commence our climb through the locks today, and cruise towards the town of Homps.
Thursday - Homps to Puicheric
Visit to the Cathar fort and hill top village of Minerve, a stunning location with a museum that tells of its history. We cruise just beyond the village of Puicheric this afternoon, to ‘The sculpture lock’, a great place to sit under the trees and relax, and watch the world go by. Tonight you dine ashore, at a beautiful restaurant, with a chance to view the Cite of Carcassonne by night, to fire your imaginations of fairy tale castles.
Friday - Puicheric to Carcassonne
Tour of the Cite of Carcassonne, to take in the fascinating medieval city, a wonderful journey into history. In the afternoon we cruise the final leg of our journey to a quiet location for the farewell dinner aboard.
Saturday
After a leisurely breakfast, we say good-bye to Colibri and head out to an arranged drop-off point. |
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Itinerary #2
Carcassonne to Castelnaudary
Sunday - Trebes
Guests are met by the Captain, Earl. Between 4 and 5 PM at the arrange meeting point. Warm welcome on board with aperitifs, and cruise slowly through the vineyards of Millegrand, toward the village of Trebes, to whet your appetites for dinner and the days to come.
Monday - Trebes to Carcassonne
Tour of the Cite of Carassonne, to take in the fascinating medieval city, a wonderful journey into history. In the afternoon we cruise the heights of Carcassonne and stop in the Port of Carcassonne for the evening.
Tuesday - Carcassonne to Villesequelande
The bustling markets and the historic sites of Narbonne are on offer for today’s excursion, lunch is taken ashore today. In the afternoon we cruise toward Villesequelande, a pretty and relaxing cruise to a quiet location for dinner aboard.
Wednesday - Villesequelande to Villepinthe
In the morning, we visit the town of Limoux, and the Sieur d'Arques winery, information on the wines and not forgetting tasting including the Cremants and Blanquettes of Limoux. We cruise a very pretty stretch of the canal today, stopping for the evening beneath the tree near Villepinthe.
Thursday - Villepinthe to Castelnaudary
Morning visit to the Cathar Chateau de Saissac, the remains of a beautiful castle in a stunning location, perched in the hills of the Montagne Noire. On the way back to Colibri we can visit the Verrerie du Canal with its exhibition of stained and blown glass. We cruise in the afternoon through a series of locks, into the Grand Bassin of Castelnaudary, the home of Cassoulet, a delicious local dish.
Friday - Castelnaudary to Seuil de Naurouze
We visit the medieval market town of Mirepoix with half-timbered houses and a beautiful square. We cruise the final leg of our journey to the Seuil de Naurouze located on the highest stretch of the Canal du Midi, a 194 metres (650ft) above sea level. This is the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. One can take a stroll and visit the obelisque to Pierre Paul Riquet, the builder of the canal set in a beautiful park. Farewell dinner aboard.
Saturday
After a leisurely breakfast, we say good-bye to Colibri and head out to an arranged drop-off point. |