Béziers – Carcassonne (or vice versa)
Saturday - Arrival at the 'Clair de Lune' around 4:30 pm, followed by a 'welcome aboard' reception where you will be introduced to the crew. If time permitting a short cruise to our first mooring in Villeneuve-les-Beziers.
Sunday - After breakfast The 'Clair de Lune' will ascend the water-staircase of seven consecutive locks at Fonsérannes in Beziers. The afternoon cruise will take you through the canal's only tunnel at Malpas.
You can enjoy the Jacuzzi and sundeck, looking out over the picturesque tree-lined canal, and perhaps cycle or walk alongside the towpath. We moor at Régimont le Haut, perhaps a private wine-tasting at a château might interest you.
Monday - A morning visit to the Oppidum d'Enserune, a two-thousand year old hilltop archeological city-site, Lunch in Capestang where you can enjoy a lovely view of the 13th century church The afternoon will involve cruising along the meandering canal until the night's mooring near the village of Argeliers. An active guest may fancy an invigorating cycle along little vineyard tracks up to the village of Quarante to view its thousand-year-old Romanesque church.
Tuesday - A morning visit to the open-air street market in Olonzac which offers a wide variety of foods, fresh produce and numerous merchants selling Provencal fabrics, books, music, hardware, clothing and other dry-goods.
You may want to visit the Oulibo Olive cooperative for an olive and olive-oil tasting and shop their boutique with local products, and wander the picturesque village of Minerve. Return to the 'Clair de Lune' for lunch followed by cruising to Homps with a stop-over in the picturesque hamlet of Le Somail to visit its famous bookshop of rare-secondhand books and other artisan boutiques.
Wednesday - A morning visit to Narbonne, founded in 118 B.C. by the Romans as their Capital in Gaul, to see the towering 13th century Gothic Cathedral and the 100-year-old covered market with its wonderful selection of fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese and many other delicious delicacies.
There are the chariot-rutted paving stones of the Roman road "Via Domitia" in the central square where one can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino or visit the impressive Archaeological museum, the Fine Arts museum or shop and browse the boutiques along the quaint pedestrian streets. Return to the barge for lunch followed by cruising up through the locks to near the village of Puicheric where we will moor for the night.
Thursday - A morning visit to the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne. 1700 years of history await you with its impressive double walls and 52 towers, the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral with its gorgeous 13th century rose windows and the winding cobbled streets lined with boutiques. Lunch will be back onboard 'Clair de Lune' you'll continue cruising up through the locks and through the 'green cathedral' of overhanging trees to our mooring near the village of Trebes.
Friday - After breakfast, disembark from the 'Clair de Lune' to be transferred to departure point for the next leg of your travels.
Saturday - Arrival at the 'Clair de Lune' around 4:30 pm, followed by a 'welcome aboard' reception where you will be introduced to the crew. If time permitting a short cruise to our first mooring in Villeneuve-les-Beziers.
Sunday - After breakfast The 'Clair de Lune' will ascend the water-staircase of seven consecutive locks at Fonsérannes in Beziers. The afternoon cruise will take you through the canal's only tunnel at Malpas.
You can enjoy the Jacuzzi and sundeck, looking out over the picturesque tree-lined canal, and perhaps cycle or walk alongside the towpath. We moor at Régimont le Haut, perhaps a private wine-tasting at a château might interest you.
Monday - A morning visit to the Oppidum d'Enserune, a two-thousand year old hilltop archeological city-site, Lunch in Capestang where you can enjoy a lovely view of the 13th century church The afternoon will involve cruising along the meandering canal until the night's mooring near the village of Argeliers. An active guest may fancy an invigorating cycle along little vineyard tracks up to the village of Quarante to view its thousand-year-old Romanesque church.
Tuesday - A morning visit to the open-air street market in Olonzac which offers a wide variety of foods, fresh produce and numerous merchants selling Provencal fabrics, books, music, hardware, clothing and other dry-goods.
You may want to visit the Oulibo Olive cooperative for an olive and olive-oil tasting and shop their boutique with local products, and wander the picturesque village of Minerve. Return to the 'Clair de Lune' for lunch followed by cruising to Homps with a stop-over in the picturesque hamlet of Le Somail to visit its famous bookshop of rare-secondhand books and other artisan boutiques.
Wednesday - A morning visit to Narbonne, founded in 118 B.C. by the Romans as their Capital in Gaul, to see the towering 13th century Gothic Cathedral and the 100-year-old covered market with its wonderful selection of fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese and many other delicious delicacies.
There are the chariot-rutted paving stones of the Roman road "Via Domitia" in the central square where one can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino or visit the impressive Archaeological museum, the Fine Arts museum or shop and browse the boutiques along the quaint pedestrian streets. Return to the barge for lunch followed by cruising up through the locks to near the village of Puicheric where we will moor for the night.
Thursday - A morning visit to the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne. 1700 years of history await you with its impressive double walls and 52 towers, the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral with its gorgeous 13th century rose windows and the winding cobbled streets lined with boutiques. Lunch will be back onboard 'Clair de Lune' you'll continue cruising up through the locks and through the 'green cathedral' of overhanging trees to our mooring near the village of Trebes.
Friday - After breakfast, disembark from the 'Clair de Lune' to be transferred to departure point for the next leg of your travels.
