Cruising on the Canal du Midi, Top Attractions

Boating Holiday in Southern France, Sail from Toulouse to the Med

Apr 24, 2009

There is no better way to discover southern France than cruising on the Canal du Midi, past sunflower fields and vineyards, quiet villages and historical cities.

Stretching for 240 km, dotted with amazing engineering feats, the 17th century Canal du Midi is a World Heritage site and the most impressive achievement in a network of waterways linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It was designed by Pierre Paul Riquet who devoted much of his life and fortune to the project.

Now the Canal du Midi is purely for pleasure as cruisers and converted barges sail from Toulouse to the Mediterranean. The whole journey takes around 10 days but most visitors settle for a week or so along their favourite section.

Boating holidays in southern France range from luxurious hotel barges complete with crew, as offered by Go barging, to self-drive cruisers or narrow boats hired through France boating holidays, Minervois cruisers and others. Boats cater to all budgets and group size but even the smallest are equipped with modern amenities. Bicycles and fishing gear may be available at extra charge and cruises can be in either direction, one way or return.

Cruising on the Canal du Midi is surprisingly easy, whether it’s manoeuvring boats or handling locks. No previous experience is needed since full training is given on site prior to departure. Family and friends can take turns at the wheel while others sunbathe on deck.

Canal du Midi Top Attractions, Pierre Paul Riquet

Any cruise along the canal is sure to include some lovely old bridges and new marinas but sailing through the Malpas tunnel is always a highlight. Under strict orders to stop digging for safety reasons, Pierre Paul Riquet carried on in secret, completing the world’s first navigation tunnel in just a week.

Among other top attractions are multiple locks, such as the triple lock in Trèbes,and the 19th century aqueduct in Béziers carrying the canal over the river Orb.

The Seuil de Naurouze marks the highest point on the Canal du Midi and the watershed between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. It’s a fitting place for the obelisk dedicated to Pierre Paul Riquet.

At the western end of the Canal du Midi on the banks of the Garonne, the pink city of Toulouse is all bustling lanes and quaint restaurants, museums and churches with a vast Cité de l’Espace devoted to space and air travel. Toulouse is known for its violets, used in scents and sweets, and woad which produces a blue dye.

The small town of Castelnaudary boasts a peaceful harbour and the birthplace of cassoulet, a fragrant bean and goose stew, while in Carcassonne, the top attraction is the restored medieval castle perched on a hilltop above the river Aude.

Béziers has delightful gardens and a quaint old town nestling around the cathedral with panoramic views. The city loves festivals, when Corbières and Minervois wines flow in abundance, a world away from the sleepy villages along the way and the pink flamingos of the Etang de Thau at the end of the cruise.

The copyright of the article Cruising on the Canal du Midi, Top Attractions in France Travel is owned by Solange Hando. Permission to republish Cruising on the Canal du Midi, Top Attractions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.