The canal du Midi between Beziers and Narbonne Site Home - What's New? -Feedback - About Jack- Travel/Art Links
Languedoc Roussillon
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The canal du Midi between Beziers and Narbonne Site Home - What's New? -Feedback - About Jack- Travel/Art Links |
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Languedoc Roussillon |
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France-Languedoc-Roussillon-The Canal du Midi |
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The Canal du Midi is one of France's best-kept secrets west of Beziers. It remains serene and relatively unburdened by tourism, as long it will last. Planted all along its length with shady plane trees, the canal is also a monument of economic planning, from Louis XIV's Colbert who modernized and altered almost everything in France. From 1666 more than 12,000 men worked on the project and was completed in 1705. The canal starts in Toulouse and finishes in Agde, This monumental work was classified as world patrimony in 1996 by the UNESCO. Today, it has been some years since nobody has shipped some freight on the Canal du Midi but  it is still kept open for the tourist barges and other holiday makers (avoid if possible July and August). Some of the locks are tended, at others you have to figure out the mechanism yourself. Or you can just take a slow cruise from Beziers all the way to Toulouse. In one week, navigating at a few miles an hour you discover a new way of life. You take the time to observe nature and landscapes, you enjoy the warm southern climate and forget all about your stress. What itinerary? In one week you can navigate 150 to 200 km (5 to 6 hours a day and depending of the number of locks) Just take care of the nevralgic point in the site of the staircase of locks in Fonserannes. It's the only place where the passage is allowed at certain, fixed hours. Down 8.00-9.30 and 13.30-15.00. Up 10.00-11.45 and 16.00-17.30. The best parts of it are west of Beziers, where is passes through a score of lovely, picturesque villages. Pick it up just outside Beziers at the ECLUSES DE FONSERANES, off the N 113 for Narbonne. Here is a series of seven original locks and a watery stair. Yu don't have to be on a boat, but no road follows the canal for very long. Take a good map and with some careful navigation you can stay close to the road, make stops to visit COLOMBIERS, the to NISSAN-lez-ENSERUNNE, busy place wit 14th century church.Signs from Nissan will lead you up to the remains of one of the most important pre-Roman towers of Southern Gaul, "the Oppidum d'Enserune". The canal du Midi passes right under another Roman road at the MALPAS TUNNEL (1679) Most of the canal villages have at least one restaurant, agreeable spots to while away an afternoon. From Nissan the D 37 takes you to POILHES, sleepy and lovely, CAPESTANG, with its high landmark, visible from miles around: the Gothic Collegiale St.Pierre. The lands around the Canal are packed with vineyards and the string of villages continues: ARGELIERS, LE SOMAIL, a sweet hamlet where the bargemen usually stop to take an afternoon nap. A few rental and other addresses: hire a small boat (ask any of the village or spend a week on a canal barge, (canal is open March-Nov) Reputed firms are RIVE DU SUD in Colombiers, southwest of Beziers tel 0467371460 fax 0467376003. Also try CROWN BLUE in Castelnadaury tel 0468651455 fax 0468945273 fax 0468906672, LOCABOAT PLEASANCE, in Argens Minervois tel 0468270333 fax 0468277196.CONNOISSEUR CRUISES 7, quai d'Alsace in Narbonne tel 0468651455 FAX 0468906672 For 4 to 6 people a week, prices in July and August, range from 1,150 Euros - 1,450 Euros. Off season they can so low as 800 Euros. Add 75-120 Euros a week for the fuel. No previous experience is needed and the max speed is 6 km an hour. Bring bikes with you if you have the opportunity For more info contact the Comité Regional du Tourisme in Montepellier tel 0467228100 fax 0467580610. |