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Page 30 It’s All About West Swindon
Cruising the Canal du Midi By Lorraine Mace
situated at the canal’s highest point.
It is one of the most popular starting
points for barge trips. Other places
to start or ﬁ nish a cruise include St
Gilles, the pretty wine port of Homps
and Port Cassaﬁ ères.
Béziers
Just outside Béziers is one of the
canal’s most spectacular features,
the Ecluses de Fonséranes. The
series of eight staircase locks,
each 25 meters (82 ft) high, makes
Béziers worthy of a visit for this
alone.
Agde
Not far from Agde the canal passes
T
he Canal du Midi is one of the best-
through the Etang de Bagnas. This massive
known waterways in the world.
wetland is home to an incredible variety of
Cruises offer luxury travel to budget
waterfowl, nearly 250 species, including the
holidays, from historic and busy ports to
greater ﬂ amingo.
hidden villages. The canal, a UNESCO
world heritage site, connects the Atlantic
Narbonne
in the west to the Mediterranean in the
The Roman town of Narbonne, with its
east. It starts in Toulouse, joining the Canal
wonderful Merchant’s Bridge, is also home
Latéral à la Garonne ﬂ owing from Bordeaux
to Port la Nouvelle offering fabulous beaches
and the Atlantic. It then moves on towards
and seafood restaurants.
Carcassonne, Béziers and Agde, as well
Cost
as travelling through tiny and picturesque
Prices depend on whether you go for a
villages, many of which have barely changed
budget self-drive cruiser, or take a luxury trip
since the canal’s construction.
on a hotel boat. Listed below is a general
Cruising is all about relaxing and slowing
idea of the cost involved.
down, with the journey being more important
than the destination. Whether you’re in a Luxury
self-hire cruiser, or being pampered on a A private luxury cruiser for one week, with
luxury hotel boat, you can’t help but go slow. all meals, wine, snacks and beverages
There are so many great places to see included, can cost between 11,500 and
that deciding which part to visit can be hard, 12,500 Euros for four people, 21,890 and
but listed below are some of the highlights 26,045 Euros for six, 24,880 and 29,160
not to be missed. Euros for eight and, for up to ten passengers,
26,680 to 32,125 Euros. The price per
Carcassonne
person per week, based on two sharing a
Carcassonne, a UNESCO world heritage
cabin, ranges from 2,790 to 3,290 Euros.
site, is a spectacular medieval city. A 13th
century Cathar stronghold, in 2006 it was Self-drive
established as the most-visited site in Prices for one week’s hire range from 1,350
France. Between Carcassonne and the to 2,050 Euros for a boat sleeping up to four
Mediterranean, the canal traverses the wine people and 1,350 to 1,750 for a six-sleeper.
country of Minervois and Corbières. You’ll You would also need to pay for any diesel
ﬁ nd the opportunity to visit famous vineyards used (around €120 per week’s cruising).
irresistible.
Why not go with the ﬂ ow and enjoy one of
Castelnaudary France’s tourist gems?
Castelnaudary is a 14th century town
To Advertise please call 01793 859604 or e-mail info@itsallabout.org.uk
Issue 5 West.indd 30 30/07/2009 17:04
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