Who’s on board? THE CANAL DU MIDI and the Embranchement de la Nouvelle A complete guide to boating holidays on France’s most famous canal Le boat THE CANAL DU MIDI Who’s on board ABOUT THE REGION Over 100 pages of inspiration ABOUT THE REGION The energetic east 6-7 Geography 62-63 The Fonserannes Locks 8-9 What to book 64-67 Béziers 10-11 Planning your time 68-69 Villeneuve-lès-Béziers, 12-13 Wines of the region Cers and Portiragnes 14-15 Cuisine and local markets 70-71 Port Cassafières 16-17 Getting active and fun for the family 72-73 The Libron Crossing and Vias 18-19 Historic buildings 74-75 Agde and Le Cap d’Agde THE CANAL DU MIDI THE EMBRANCHMENT DE LA NOUVELLE 20-21 Introduction and history Overlooked and under-rated The far west 76-77 Introduction and history 22-25 Toulouse 78-81 Canal de Jonction and 26-27 Villages and stops east of Toulouse Sallèles d’Aude 28-29 The Naurouze Pass 82-85 Narbonne A peaceful saunter 86-87 Gruissan 30-31 Castelnaudary 88-89 St-Lucie Island and Port-la-Nouvelle 32-33 Pexiora, Villepinte, Bram and Canal de la Robine p76 Villesèquelande THE PRACTICALITIES OF BOATING 34-37 Carcassonne 90-91 Our boats 38-39 Beyond Carcassonne 92-93 Locks Active in the middle 94-95 Staying safe 40-41 Trèbes 96-97 Mooring, fuel, water and waste Our most popular 42-43 Cavayère Lake 44-45 Millepetit, Marseillette, Puichéric OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION and La Redorte 98-107 Our illustrated map 46-47 Homps 108 Can you spot...? boating region Lockless and loads to do 109 Tree replanting programme 48-49 Argens-Minervois & Roubia 110 Download our app 50-51 Paraza and Ventenac-en-Minervois 111 Useful French phrases The Canal du Midi and the adjoining Embranchement de la 52-53 Le Somail 112 Major events and festivals Nouvelle (Canal de Jonction and Canal de la Robine) form our 54-55 Argeliers 113 Give us your feedback 56-57 Capestang biggest and most popular boating region, enjoyed by thousands 58-59 Poilhes of holiday makers every year. Bathed in warm sunshine from April 60-61 Colombiers to October, the canals wend their way past a diverse spectrum of remote and picturesque countryside, quaint and sleepy villages and bustling cities full of history and charm. ABOUT THIS GUIDE This Guide is intended to help you to visualise what a boating holiday in this region might look like and Whether you’re an experienced captain or have never been IT’S ALL MAPPED OUT... help you decide whether it’s the right destination for you. If you are already on board, it can be used boating before, you’ll find this region easy to navigate, with friendly At the back of this Guide, our fold-out map day-by-day to ensure you make the most of everything there is to see and do. From page 22, each and helpful lock keepers on hand (on the Midi) and many fellow place or attraction is presented in the order it is located on the canal, from west to east (or north to will put everything in to perspective for you. boaters around with whom to exchange advice, ask for help or to south on the Embranchment de la Nouvelle), so if you’re travelling in the opposite direction... just read We hope you enjoy our visual representation the Guide backwards! This Guide is not intended to replace the Editions du Breil waterways guide, simply pass the time of day. of all there is to do along the which is provided on board and should always be consulted when navigating along the canal. Get ready to be inspired! famous Canal du Midi. 2 3 Le boat THE CANAL DU MIDI Who’s on board ABOUT THE REGION Over 100 pages of inspiration ABOUT THE REGION The energetic east 6-7 Geography 62-63 The Fonserannes Locks 8-9 What to book 64-67 Béziers 10-11 Planning your time 68-69 Villeneuve-lès-Béziers, 12-13 Wines of the region Cers and Portiragnes 14-15 Cuisine and local markets 70-71 Port Cassafières 16-17 Getting active and fun for the family 72-73 The Libron Crossing and Vias 18-19 Historic buildings 74-75 Agde and Le Cap d’Agde THE CANAL DU MIDI THE EMBRANCHMENT DE LA NOUVELLE 20-21 Introduction and history Overlooked and under-rated The far west 76-77 Introduction and history 22-25 Toulouse 78-81 Canal de Jonction and 26-27 Villages and stops east of Toulouse Sallèles d’Aude 28-29 The Naurouze Pass 82-85 Narbonne A peaceful saunter 86-87 Gruissan 30-31 Castelnaudary 88-89 St-Lucie Island and Port-la-Nouvelle 32-33 Pexiora, Villepinte, Bram and Canal de la Robine p76 Villesèquelande THE PRACTICALITIES OF BOATING 34-37 Carcassonne 90-91 Our boats 38-39 Beyond Carcassonne 92-93 Locks Active in the middle 94-95 Staying safe 40-41 Trèbes 96-97 Mooring, fuel, water and waste Our most popular 42-43 Cavayère Lake 44-45 Millepetit, Marseillette, Puichéric OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION and La Redorte 98-107 Our illustrated map 46-47 Homps 108 Can you spot...? boating region Lockless and loads to do 109 Tree replanting programme 48-49 Argens-Minervois & Roubia 110 Download our app 50-51 Paraza and Ventenac-en-Minervois 111 Useful French phrases The Canal du Midi and the adjoining Embranchement de la 52-53 Le Somail 112 Major events and festivals Nouvelle (Canal de Jonction and Canal de la Robine) form our 54-55 Argeliers 113 Give us your feedback 56-57 Capestang biggest and most popular boating region, enjoyed by thousands 58-59 Poilhes of holiday makers every year. Bathed in warm sunshine from April 60-61 Colombiers to October, the canals wend their way past a diverse spectrum of remote and picturesque countryside, quaint and sleepy villages and bustling cities full of history and charm. ABOUT THIS GUIDE This Guide is intended to help you to visualise what a boating holiday in this region might look like and Whether you’re an experienced captain or have never been IT’S ALL MAPPED OUT... help you decide whether it’s the right destination for you. If you are already on board, it can be used boating before, you’ll find this region easy to navigate, with friendly At the back of this Guide, our fold-out map day-by-day to ensure you make the most of everything there is to see and do. From page 22, each and helpful lock keepers on hand (on the Midi) and many fellow place or attraction is presented in the order it is located on the canal, from west to east (or north to will put everything in to perspective for you. boaters around with whom to exchange advice, ask for help or to south on the Embranchment de la Nouvelle), so if you’re travelling in the opposite direction... just read We hope you enjoy our visual representation the Guide backwards! This Guide is not intended to replace the Editions du Breil waterways guide, simply pass the time of day. of all there is to do along the which is provided on board and should always be consulted when navigating along the canal. Get ready to be inspired! famous Canal du Midi. 2 3 Le boat Who’s on board Never been boating before? No matter which of our destinations you travel to, a boating holiday is simple… Choose the boat that best suits your requirements; pick it up from one of our bases and return it, by a certain date and time, to the same base. If you’d prefer, you can do a one-way cruise and return it to a different base further along the canal, so long as this is what you book. What you do in between is entirely up to you - you’re free to stop when you want, for as long as you want; explore new places, see amazing sights and create lasting memories. Cesse Aqueduct, just north of Le Somail Our boats have all the necessary features to ensure you are completely self-sufficient throughout your holiday. You 30 can travel from one exciting place to the next without the 29 need to unpack and repack each time. The kitchens on our 28 boats come fully-equipped if you would like to self-cater, the 27 beds come with linen, and the bathrooms have showers, hot 26 water and toilets. (See pages 90-91 for more information about our fleet.) 25 24 Now all you need is the waterway, which allows you to see the 23 sights from a completely unique perspective. It slows you 22 down and allows you to appreciate your surroundings and When to go 21 drink in the scenery. It provides you with an ever-changing 20 view, delivers nature and wildlife to your door and entices you The hot and sunny months of July and August 19 to amazing towns and villages. More importantly, it allows are peak season for this region and the canals 18 you to create your own holiday - be that a restful break or an can get busy. You may have to wait your turn active adventure. at locks, and public moorings in some villages 17 can be slightly more difficult to find. On the plus 16 Now... who’s on board? side however, there are plenty of fellow boaters °C Temperature 15 to chat to and you’ll find a greater variety of 14 attractions, exhibitions and restaurants to 13 choose from - some open especially for the 12 peak season.