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Let yourself be inspired
Let yourself be inspired
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Our canal boats
Our canal boats
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River Trips the blog
Suggested cruising options Somail*
Delve into an ancient past by canal boat
** All prices are calculated on the basis of a two day weekend in low season.
Description of
the boating holiday
Canal boat hire from Somail to Fonseranes, via Narbonne
This short break boating holiday itinerary will see you cruise on two waterways – the Canal de la Robine in the direction of Narbonne and the shores of the Mediterranean, before joining the Canal du Midi where you have the extremes of a vast 52km stretch with no locks before reaching Fonseranes and its impressive nine lock staircase!
By hiring a canal boat from the Nicols base at Le Somail you are in the ideal place to discover one of the most famous waterways in Europe – the Canal du Midi. The charming little port of Le Somail can be found halfway between Carcassonne and Béziers on the longest continuous section of canal in France, at 52km without seeing a lock!
Le Somail: Ice house cooler dating back to 1684, "Le Trouve-tout du livre" bookstore and its 50,000 books for sale!
Sallèles-d'Aude: located at the foot of the Black Mountain’s in the heart of vineyards of Languedoc, historical monuments: the Gailhousty Epanchoir, the canal bridge built by Vauban, the Eiffel type bridge, the chapel Saint-Roch, the Castle where François I stayed, Amphoralis Museum
Narbonne: ‘merchants bridge’ with houses and shops on – one of only two in France, Gothic cathedral Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur, covered market with over 70 local merchants
Argeliers: Castle of the 12th century classified as “historic monument”
Fonserannes: “Staircase of 9 locks” a unique site in France, small tourist train to Beziers (summer months)
After cruising as far as Fonseranes it is time to think about the return leg of your journey. Look out again for the favourite places you found so far, or maybe stop off at some new ones as you cruise back to the starting base at Le Somail.
They tried it and love it
Our other boating holidaysfor you
We had a memorable cruise and everybody loved life on the waterways. We travelled early in the season so it was nice and quiet – sometimes we felt like we had the canal all to ourselves! The surrounding landscapes are magnificent and a boating holiday is a very affordable type of holiday when you have a crew similar to ours which was eight adults and one child.
Francesca, Guernsey