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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*
Head to the medieval city : A canal boat to Carcassonne
** All prices are calculated on the basis of a two day weekend in low season.
Description of
the boating holiday
Your boating holiday from Le Somail to Carcassonne
Explore the mythical Canal du Midi and discover a timeless charm and the rich history and traditional gastronomy of the region. During this one-week boating holiday you’ll discover the vineyards of Minervois and cross bridges and locks on route to the beautiful fortified city of Carcassonne.
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: iconic stone bridge, cooling house dating back to 1684, impressive book store with 50,000 works for sale!
Ventenac-en-Minervois: set on a hill top with stunning views, cellar visits to the wine grower Château de Ventenac-en-Minervois
Paraza: 17th century castle, Répudre Canal Bridge - the oldest in France (1km away)
Roubia: beautiful village built around a castle, Moulin de la Restanque for gourmet olive oils
Argens-Minervois: beautiful village built around a 14th century castle, wine tours at the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin in Lézignan-Corbières (5km away)
Homps: short walk to Lake Jouarres for swimming, windsurfing, canoeing and fishing
La Redorte: remarkable stone arches built in 1693 to prevent flooding
Puichéric: impressive unique lock by Joël Barthès, pretty castle of Puichéri, Romanesque church, Minervois vineyards
Marseillette: rice growing Marseillette pond, Chappe tower
Trèbes: Saint-Etienne church (14th century), swimming pool, La Rode canal bridge, Orbiel canal bridge, impressive staircase of three locks, waterside restaurants
Carcassonne: Medieval city with ramparts 3km in length and 52 towers. UNESCO World Heritage Site, many events – markets, festivals etc.
After cruising as far as Carcassonne on the Canal du Midi 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 highly recommend it!
The sun of the south, the slow pace of life on the water allowing you to take every detail of this fascinating canal in, and lunches on the deck of our canal boat. We can’t recommend this boating holiday enough!
Jocelyne, Guéret