EMMA, an inviting 6 passenger first class barge, cruises on the Canal du Midi in the south of France.

Cruise the Canal du Midi on board the homey and immaculate six-passenger barge, EMMA. Take the warmth of an Irish welcome, add the seductive charm of the French, put it on a beautifully restored turn of the century barge, cover it with a balmy Mediterranean climate and what have you got? A lazy luxury cruise along the historic 17th century Canal du Midi with your hosts, René and Liz, aboard their floating home.

Cruise Highlights


Emma's owner and chef, Liz, prepares a delectable dinner

A Typical Superb Dinner Menu

Tartar of smoked salmon and crab

Glazed breast of duck with grapefruit and ginger marmelade served on a mash of sweet potato with sugar snap peas

Cheese: Langres

Dessert: Summer fruits brioche served with cognac marscapone

Wines: Chateau la Voulte- Gasparets white
Domaine Rimbert -red
Chateau St Eualalie -rosè

 

 

Highlights of a
Week on EMMA

Canal du Midi, South of France

  • A Unesco World Heritage Site, The Canal du Midi is lined with towering plane trees and winds through pretty Languedoc villages
  • Carcassonne, the most well preserved fortified town in Europe with its cobblestone streets, boutiques and castle
  • Narbonne, a bustling market town built on Roman foundations
  • Minerve, a medieval village perched on a cliff over the confluence of two rivers. An historic Cathar stronghold.
  • Languedoc is the largest wine region in France bordered on the South by the Pyrenees Mountains and the Cevennes Mountains in the north.

 

Itinerary

Canal du Midi
Colombiers (outside Beziers) to Carcassonne

This route is along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Canal du Midi. The canal winds its way through the biggest vineyard in the world lined with plane trees and umbrella pines.

We go through about 12 locks, some of which have single basins, some double and a few with triple basins. We crossover aqueducts, canal bridges and through a tunnel!

We have the Corbieres range of mountains on one side and the Minervois on the other. The flavour of this cruise is the countryside.

This cruise takes in visites to Carcassonne, Narbonne, and Minerve.

Carcassonne
The biggest and best preserved fortified city in Europe; Cobbled streeets, little boutiques, Gothic cathedral, its own Castle, double ramparts , a great day out.

Narbonne
When the romans came to France in 118BC they chose Narbonne as their main City and there is still a lot of their influence to be seen. A busy bustling city it is a shoppers paradise either in the covered market or in the chic boutiques.

Minerve
A medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop in the middle of a canyon remembered for the Cathar stronghold it once was. A spectacular visit.

Emma will be cruising mainly on the Canal du Midi between Carcassonne and Beziers. Should you have a special request for another part of the canal, please let us know as Emma can accommodate a change in routes with sufficient notice. Other alternatives are the Camargue area to Beaucaire/Aigues Mortes or Carcassonne to Toulouse. The owners of EMMA are very flexible and happy to customize a barge cruise for your interests. Please contact us with your requests.

 

 Emma serves a variety of Languedoc and regional French wines

Emma offers an authentic European experience with French captain, Rene, and Irish chef, Liz. This is an Irish woman who can cook!