Sunday, Day 1 - Portiragnes
We will be waiting to meet you at Portiragnes Port Cassafières at 6PM. You will board Beatrice moored in the countryside atmosphere of the canal du midi. Welcoming champagne and dinner will begin at 8PM, after which you may enjoy a walk along the canal before turning in to your cabin for a peaceful night.
Monday, Day 2 - Foncérannes
Our cruise will begin after breakfast on board. We will be cruising towards Villeneuve les Béziers where we will moor for the lunch on board.Then continue to the Pont Canal in the city of Béziers and then up the astonishing 7 locks of Foncérannes where we moor for the night.
You may like to watch the DVD on the history of the canal, built from 1667 to 1681 by Pierre-Paul Riquet to fully appreciate the masterpiece of engineering you experienced today...
Tuesday, Day 3 - Regiment Le Haut
Breakfast at 9:00 then cruise to Colombiers and visit the ancient wine cellar of the chateau.Then continue to Enserune hill. After lunch on board we suggest a hike to Enserune archaeological site and museum.This type of hilltop village is characteristic of the celtic world of Iron Age southern Gaul.The site was discovered in 1860 by Abbot Giniès. The museum is housed in a villa built in 1915 and redesigned in the 1940s by Jules Formigé.
We will start cruising again through the impressive Tunnel du Malpas, the first canal tunnel built in the world. We will end our cruise for the day at Regiment Le Haut, a very beautiful hamlet in the countryside. Perfect setting for gourmet diner on board and overnight.
Wednesday, Day 4 - Capestang
Today’s cruise will take us to Capestang awhere you will visit the local market and the 13th century cathedral of St Etienne.
After lunch on board in Capestang, our driver will suggest 2 great afternoon tour options: Excurion to Minerve or Fontfroide Abbey:
Minerve was a powerful small town in the middles ages.The residence of the viscounts of Minerve dominated the Minervois Region. The natural site of Minerve is one ofthe most astonishing in the departement of Herault, and is part of the upper Languedoc Regional Nature Park.
The Abbey of Fontfroide is equally interesting, as one of the most complete abbey complexes remaining today. This Cistercian Abbey was founded as a Benedictine abbey in 1093 and affiliated with the Cistercians in 1145. Construction on the church began soon after. The cloisters and chapter house date from the 12th century and are excellent examples of Romanesque architecture.
You will then return to Beatrice, for dinner on board and overnight in charming Capestang.
Thursday, Day 5 - Le Somail
After breakfast on board, we leave Capestang through its tiny arched bridge and cruise to La Croisade where we moor for lunch. La Croisade is located in the heart of the countryside, a perfect spot to relax on the sun deck and enjoy the quiet life.
We will then cruise to Le Somail and visit this lovely hamlet, known for its "librairie ancienne" which houses thousands ofrare books, prints and posters. Le Somail will be our mooring point for dinner and the night.
Friday, Day 6 - Carcassonne & Argens
Today’s excursion is the famous walled city of Carcassonne, a fascinating fortified medieval fortress, Unesco World Heritage Site.
After lunch on board, we cruise towards Argens in the Minervois region where we dine on board and moor for the night. This is a very nice portion of the canal that you will surely enjoy, with plenty of opportunities to walk or cycle the excellent towpath alongside Beatrice.
Saturday, Day 7 - Homps
Your last day on board will be complemented with a scenic morning cruise through several locks to the charming village of Homps, where a gourmet lunch will be served on board.
Disembarkation will follow later this afternoon, at 3PM.
Route runs in reverse on alternate weeks and may differ on selected cruise dates
Beatrice
With her warm and welcoming atmosphere, Beatrice will give you a lovely relaxed introduction to the most iconic waterway in France with a wide variety of fascinating sites to see and explore, most of them from the sun deck, on foot or by bike. ...Rates are based on private charter cruise (not per person)
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