Connoisseur Afloat - Canal Du Midi

Canal Du Midi

Canal du Midi

Bathed in warm sunshine for most of the year, a cruise on the historic Canal du Midi is a perfect choice for experienced and first-time cruisers alike. Cruise from the red-brick city of Toulouse in the West, all the way to the Mediterranean in the South.

Listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site, the Canal du Midi takes you on a wonderful journey through the heart of the gastronomic Languedoc countryside - France's most prolific wine producing region.

Wind your way under the dappled shade of the trees that border the canal, through ancient and modern cities, past pretty waterside villages and neatly planted vineyards.

Suggested Cruises in Canal Du Midi

Short Breaks

Duration:
4 days

Cruise Type:
One Way

Locks:
30

Distance:
53 km

Trèbes - Castelnaudary
Make the most of this classic Canal du Midi cruise abd enjoy a sunshine cruise to the lovely town of Castelnaudary via Carcassonne. (minimum of three nights)

Week Breaks

Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
56

Distance:
192 km

Homps - Bram - Homps

From the small port of Homps - once famous for shipping the many barrels of Languuedoc wine onto Bordeaux, head up-stream under the shade of the plane trees to the lovely waterside town of Bram, stopping en route to visit the medieval walled city of Carcassonne.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
One Way

Locks:
45

Distance:
81 km

Homps - Castelnaudary

Take this classic Canal du Midi cruise in sunshine and shade to the lovely town of Castelnaudary. Spend time en route visiting the town of Trèbes, Carcassonne and Bram and savour the slow pace of life along this beautiful section of the canal.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
8

Distance:
125 km

Homps - Fonsérannes - Homps

Follow this historic waterway through the stunning vineyards and pretty waterside villages in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Take the slow lane to heaven and follow Europe's oldest artificial waterway and a marvel of 17th century engineering through the beautiful Languedoc region. Under the welcome shade of the plane trees which line its entire length, the Canal du Midi takes you on a voyage of discovery through the heart of pretty waterside villages and stunning vineyards where row upon row of neatly trained vines ripen in the Mediterranean sunshine.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
36

Distance:
118 km

Homps - Narbonne - Homps

Make the most of the Mediterranean sunshine along one of the prettiest sections of the Canal du Midi and the peaceful Canal de la Robine. Vineyards to visit and waterside restaurants en route make this an idyllic cruise and seaside fun can be had on the nearby beaches at Port la Nouvelle.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
One Way

Locks:
16

Distance:
77 km

Homps - Port Cassafières

Set off from the wine centre of Homps and savour the memorable sites and sounds of the Canal du Midi en route to Port Cassafières, situated at the edge of the Camargue and close to lovely beaches.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
56

Distance:
172 km

Narbonne - Agde - Narbonne

Cruise along the Mediterranean coast to the edge of the Camargue region, taking in waterside restaurants, pretty villages and stunning scenery, as well as the staircase locks at Fontsérannes, along the way.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
78

Distance:
158 km

Narbonne - Carcassonne - Narbonne

Start your holiday in the pretty Roman town of Narbonne and enjoy the scenery of the Canal de la Robine before turning onto the Canal du Midi and heading towards the medieval city of Carcassonne.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
50

Distance:
176 km

Trèbes - Béziers - Trèbes

Enjoy the lock free cruising between Argens and Béziers as you pass through the heart of waterside towns and villages to the busy port-town of Béziers, birthplace of Pierre Paul Riquet - father of the Canal du Midi. Experience the staircase locks at Fonsérannes and the oldest canal tunnel at Malpas en route.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
64

Distance:
106 km

Trèbes - Castelnaudary - Trèbes

From our base at Trèbes, head west towards the medieval town of Castelnaudary for an authentic meal of Cassoulet before retracting your steps, stopping off en route to try and buy some wine from the many canal-side cellars.
Duration:
7 days

Cruise Type:
One Way

Locks:
29

Distance:
69 km

Trèbes - Narbonne

A wonderul one week cruise along the Canal du Midi and the Canal de la Robine. Narbonne, with its wonderful Merchant's Bridge is a delightful city to explore and is close to the beaches.

Longer Breaks

Duration:
14 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
108

Distance:
190 km

Homps - Port Lauragais - Homps
From the small town of Homps - once important for shipping barrels of Minervois and Corbières onwards to Bordeaux, head upstream on this classic Canal du Midi cruise to Port Lauragais, passing Le Ségala - the canal's summit, en route.
Duration:
14 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
128

Distance:
238 km

Narbonne - Castelnaudary - Narbonne
An ancient Roman town and former thriving sea port, Narbonne is famous for its spectacular Merchant's bridge - one of the few remaining bridges lined with houses and shops. From here, head up-stream past manay delightful villages and vineyards, and the medieval city of Carcassonne, before reaching Castelnaudary.
Duration:
14 days

Cruise Type:
Round Trip

Locks:
62

Distance:
210 km

Trèbes - Port Cassafières - Trèbes
From the pretty town of Trèbes, travel through the sun-baked Languedoc countryside to the seaside area of Port Cassafières, gateway to the captivating Camargue.

Bases in this Region

Narbonne: Base manager Nick Fielden welcomes you to Narbonne. Situated on the Canal de la Robine, Narbonne is a perfect place to start your cruising holiday in the Langudeoc. With blue skies above and warm sunshine on your face, you’ll soon discover why this part of France is at its most attractive from the waterside.
Trèbes: Base manager Jean Paul Moise welcomes you to Trebes. Not until you have enjoyed a cruising holiday on the Canal du Midi can you truly say that you understand the simple pleasures of life. Winding its way through the lower plains of the great Languedoc region – the prime wine producing region of France, exploring the Canal du Midi is a must for any lover of food and wine.
Homps: Base manager Donald Macphail welcomes you to Homps. The Canal du Midi makes cruising a perfect holiday at any time of year - the warmth of the Mediterranean sunshine and the dappled shade of the thousands of plane, cypress and pine trees that border its paths will entice you to its waters whatever the season.
Castelnaudary: Base manager Pierre Azeau welcomes you to Castelnaudary. The construction of the Canal du Midi made many changes to the landscape of the town, with mills and buildings sprouting out of the landscape. The Canal heralded a time of unprecedented development, and Castelnaudary grew in accordance. Now home to over 2,000 inhabitants, the town is the capital of Cassoulet – a rich stew made from local ingredients of white beans, pork, goose, duck and sausages.