7nt Castelnaudary RETURN via Carcassonne
Castelnaudary is our gateway to the tranquil and quieter end of the Canal du Midi where you can enjoy the simplicity of boating, taking walks around quiet villages and cycling through the glorious French countryside. Although in contrast to all this, the famous, fortified citadel at Carcassonne is the turnaround point on this 7 night suggested itinerary – a UNESCO heritage site and a ‘must-see’ for anyone visiting this region.
Suggested Itinerary
Arrive at base
2pm – 5pm
After you have arrived and checked-in, we’ll show you to your boat as quickly as possible. Spend time settling in, freshen up and await your pre-departure briefing which will be given by one of our base technicians. They will familiarise you with the boat’s domestic systems and give you a hands-on demonstration of the boat controls and how to operate it. They will make sure you are comfortable and confident controlling the boat, as well as navigating the waterway, before you set off.
Explore Castelnaudary
5pm – 6:30pm
While part of your crew is settling on the boat, you can buy groceries 6 minutes away (by car) from the base at Intermarché, or 10 minutes away (by foot) in the city center at the Spar. We recommend lunch on board your boat tomorrow, so make sure you have enough provisions for a lunchtime feast.
Dinner at Le Tirou, Castelnaudary
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Feast on delicious traditional cassoulet at this popular family-owned & run restaurant, complete with alpacas roaming in the surrounding gardens. +33 (0)4 68 94 15 95 | tirou.fr
Le Tirou is only open in the evening on Saturdays – so on other days La Maison du Cassoulet, in the centre of Castelnaudary, is very popular and open every day for dinner.
Overnight in Castelnaudary
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Castelnaudary > Villepinte
9:30am – 3pm
Approx. 4.5hrs (+ 1hr for lunch) | 15 locks
The start of your boating adventure gets immediately underway with a flight of 4 locks (St-Roch) to pass through. Shortly after there’s a flight of 2 locks, followed by a flight of 3 and then a further 6 single locks all within 0.5 to 1km of each other. It’s slow going but enjoy the experience. It’s an excellent way to ‘learn the ropes’ quickly and by the time you reach Villepinte, you’ll be true experts. Remember the locks close at midday, when the lock keepers take lunch, so have some lunch yourself, wherever along the canal you end up.
When you reach Villepinte, moor opposite the Épanchoir de Villepinte (spillway).
Explore Villepinte
3:30pm – 6:30pm
Villepinte is a great place to take out your bikes (if you have added some to your booking) and enjoy the beautiful canal scenery on two wheels.
Dinner at Les Deux Acacias, Villepinte
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Enjoy a lovely home-cooked meal at this laid-back restaurant, conveniently located in a charming hotel in the centre of the village, not far from the canal. +33 (0)4 68 94 24 67
Overnight in Villepinte
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Villepinte > Bram
9:30am – 11am
Approx. 1hr 30mins | 3 locks
Explore Bram
11am – 12:30pm
This pretty and quiet village is built on a circular plan with a 13th century church at its heart. A pleasant walk or cycle along a pretty tree-lined avenue will take you directly to the village.
Lunch in Le Petit Bramais, Bram
12:30pm – 2pm
We recommend Le Petit Bramais. It is a cosy restaurant situated in the former hardware store. Enjoy a delicious modern menu, with a traditional French twist. +33 (0)4 68 77 10 06
Explore Eburomagus Archaeological Museum
2pm – 3pm
Take your time to explore the museum of archaeology, the “Eburomagus Archaeological Museum”, which houses more than 4,000 artefacts that have been discovered through excavations in and around the area over the last 30 years.
Bram > Villesèquelande
3:30pm – 5pm
Approx. 1hr 30mins | 1 lock
When you reach Villesèquelande, moor by the charming stone bridge which allows you easy access to the village of Villesèquelande, a short 500m away.
Explore Villesèquelande
5:30pm – 6:30pm
Why not pop into the Museum of Chivalry? Its a quirky place, festooned with medieval displays, suits of armour and weaponry spanning 1000 years of history. musee-chevalerie.fr
This is a perfect place for both adults and children (from 6 years old) to learn everything there is to know about chivalry. Open every day except Sundays and Mondays. Remember to make a reservation!
musee-chevalerie.fr | +33 4 68 71 48 89
Dinner in La Halte Romaine, Villesèquelande
7:30pm – 9:30pm
A local gem specialising in freshly-caught, local seafood dishes and pizza. Bookings are advised: +33 9 61 60 17 61
Overnight in Villesèquelande
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Villesèquelande > Carcassonne
9am – 12noon
Approx. 3hrs | 5 locks
Lunch in Chez Fred, Carcassonne (lower town area)
12noon – 1pm
We recommend Chez Fred: Adjacent to the port (just a 4 minute walk), Pierre and Siham share their passion for good, seasonal and local produce. A refined, bistronomic cuisine that combines flavours, colours and originality. +33 (0)4 68 72 02 23 | restaurant-chezfred.fr
Walk or take a bus to Cité de Carcassonne
1pm – 1:30pm
To get from the lower town area (St Louis Bastide) up to the fortified citadel, you can take a 30 minute walk – or catch a bus (10 minutes) from the bus station opposite the port.
Explore La Cité de Carcassonne (the citadel)
2pm – 8pm
Visit the ancient part of the city “La Cité de Carcassonne”. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this fortified, medieval, walled city is unique in Europe by its sheer size and its superb state of conservation. Walking along the walls, you’ll appreciate the immense scale of the structure. Then, visit the Cathedral St. Nazaire, a beautiful structure, if only to view its magnificent stained-glass windows. Finally, wander through the cobbled streets to Château Comtal, located at the heart of the citadel.
Dinner in La Marquière, Carcassonne (the citadel)
8pm – 9:30pm
We recommend La Marquière: This is a ‘good find’ in the heart of the citadel, offering classic French dishes which are beautifully presented. Enjoy dining al fresco in the lovely inner terrace and be sure to leave room for dessert. Booking recommended: +33 (0)4 68 71 52 00 | lamarquiere.com
La Marquière offers a complimentary kir to Le Boat customers.
Travel back to your boat
9:30pm – 10pm
Walk back to your boat (30 min) or take a taxi (pre-booking is recommended, ask the base to give you taxi companies details before your departure).
Overnight in Carcassonne
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Explore Carcassonne (lower town area)
9am – 12:30pm
While not the main attraction here, this sleepy half of the city is the perfect contrast to the hubbub of the citadel which towers above, and it is worth exploring. Both dating from the 18th century in a Gothic style, St. Michel Cathedral and St. Vincent Church are 500m apart. St. Michel Cathedral is simple and unassuming, but has lovely stained glass to admire; its facade has a large rose window that is eight meters in diameter. As for St. Vincent Church, its 54m-high, octagonal tower houses a carillon of 47 bells. Climb the 232 steps that’ll take you to the top and enjoy the stunning views over the entire city of Carcassonne and the surrounding territories. The Museum of Fine Arts houses a rich panorama of western paintings of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. You will also discover a collection of pottery, tapestries and other objet d’art. And don’t miss the opportunity to stock up on fresh local produce from cheeses, meats, fish and vegetables at Les Halles houses a covered market, which were built in 1768. For golf-lovers, Carcassonne’s internationally renowned golf course is 10 minutes away from your moorings by taxi, or 20 minutes by bike.
Lunch in Le Blé Noir, Carcassonne (lower town area)
12pm – 1:30pm
Only a 10 minute walk from the port, this crêperie is highly-rated and very popular, and serves out-of-this-world crêpes with savoury and sweet toppings to die for. +33 (0)4 68 72 34 80
Carcassonne > Château de Serres
1.45pm – 2.15 pm
Approx. 30mins | 0 lock
Explore the Château de Serres
2.30pm – 4pm
A little before the Douce lock, on the left, you will find a small indentation where you can moor. Then, retrace your steps and walk a few minutes to reach the Château de Serres.
The Château de Serres is a family-owned property belonging to the Le Marié-Tallavignes family, an old Languedoc family that has been producing wine between Carcassonne and Béziers for 600 years.
By visiting this family vineyard, you will discover the history of its 19th-century castle and its “à la française” classified park designed and built by the Buhler brothers. During the visit, you will also have the opportunity to explore the vineyard, the cellar, and of course, taste the wine. Why not leave with a bottle or even a case of their good wine?
Remember to book at least 24 hours in advance to ensure your visit to the castle. +33 6 80 45 27 78 | €15 per person for the visit if you don’t purchase wine.
Château de Serres > Villesèquelande
4.15pm – 6.30pm
Approx. 2hrs15 | 5 locks
Dinner on Board, Villesèquelande
7:30pm – 9:30pm
If you have one on board your boat (or if you added one to your booking) fire up the barbecue and dine al fresco on your sundeck. Enjoy the delicious, regional products that you bought in Carcassonne earlier.
Overnight in Villesèquelande
For families with younger children
Carcassonne: The Cavayère lake is an exciting cluster of attractions to the southeast of Carcassonne, all worth a short bus or taxi ride to get to. In summer, swimming is permitted and supervised. There are areas for picnics, pedal boats to hire, mini golf, several beach volleyball courts, inflatable water games and a forest adventure park.
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Villesèquelande > Bram
10am – 11:30am
Approx. 1hr 30mins | 1 lock
Téléski Nautique de Bram, restaurant
12noon – 1:30pm
A 20 minute walk from the moorings (9 minutes by bike) you’ll find Lake Buzerens, home to Teleski Nautique de Bram. Before you get in the water, you can enjoy a plate of delicious tapas and a glass of local wine served at the restaurant which has a beautiful shaded terrace overlooking the water. teleskinautiquebram.net/restauration |+33 (0)4 68 79 74 14.
Water-skiing at Bram Teleski Nautique de Bram
2pm – 4pm
This is a great place to give water-skiing a try and spend a fun afternoon on (and in) the water. Pulled along by a 600 metre long, over-head ski-lift, adults and children as young as 7 years old can experience a variety of disciplines from knee-boarding to water-skiing, all the while supervised by experienced instructors. For bookings : +33 (0)4 68 79 74 14 | teleskinautiquebram.net
Bram > Villepinte
4:30pm – 6pm
Approx. 1hr 30mins | 3 locks
Pizzeria Entre-nous, Villepinte
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Enjoy delicious pizza onboard! With Pizzeria Entre Nous you can order pizza for take away. +33 6 43 30 89 04
Overnight in Villepinte
Breakfast on board
8am – 9am
Villepinte > Pexiora
9:30am – 10am
Approx. 30mins | 1 lock
After you pass through Treboul Lock, keep going for about 600 metres and there are moorings on the right.
Explore Pexiora
10am – 11:30am
The little village of Pexiora is about 2km from the canal and the perfect place to enjoy a walk or a bike-ride to. The countryside is a delight here and there is a very good bakery and a small grocery store if you want to get some provisions in for lunch.
Lunch on board, near Pexiora
12noon – 1pm
Pexiora > Castelnaudary
1pm – 5pm
Approx. 4 hrs | 14 locks
Explore Castelnaudary
5pm – 6:30pm
Take a walk up to the village and visit the St-Michel collegiate church. Then, continue further to the outskirt to enjoy the view from the Cugarel windmill. Built in the 17th century and restored in 1962, this cute, little stone windmill still has its working mechanism intact.
Dinner at Le Clos Fleuri, Castelnaudary
7:30pm – 9:30pm
After a 25 minute walk, enjoy fine dining made from local products in this beautiful restaurant in Clos Fleuri Hotel. Don’t forget to try the authentic cassoulet, the traditional Castelnaudary dish! +33 (0)4 68 94 01 20 | www.leclosfleuri.fr
Clos Fleuri offer a special discount to Le Boat customers.
Overnight in Castelnaudary
For families with younger children
Castelnaudary: During hot days you can take the family to the municipality swimming pool, which is only 10 minutes away, by foot, from the base.
Breakfast on board
7:30am – 8:30am
Enjoy your final breakfast on board before tidying and vacating your boat by 9am (unless you have booked and paid for a late-checkout)
Depart Castelnaudary
9 am
10 night alternative
If you have booked extra nights, we suggest staying longer in Carcassonne. You might even try booking a tour which will take you south of Carcassonne, deep into Cathar country to explore more castles, abbeys and vineyards. Vin en Vacance are a small team of qualified wine experts who have e a great passion for the region, its wines, food culture and history and have a selection of half and full days tours available to book. They will pick up from Carcassone. vinenvacances.com
Vin en Vacances offer preferential rates to Le Boat customers.
You will also have time to continue cruising east, after Carcassonne, towards Trèbes. There, you can moor at our Le Boat base. Take a short stroll to the 13th century church, which has beautiful oak beams and sculptured figures that look down on visitors. Trèbes is also an ideal place to sample some excellent local produce. Nearby, the Domaine des Pères have been olive growers for three generations, and sell olive oil and its derivatives products such as soap, as well as local wines, honey, pâtés and traditionally made beers.
This itinerary is a suggestion only
This suggested itinerary is an indication of what could be accomplished, and your ability to accomplish it, is not a contractual obligation of Le Boat. Le Boat is unable to guarantee when your pre-departure briefing will take place and in some cases it will not be given until the morning after your arrival. In these instances, you will need to adapt the itinerary outlined to accommodate a later departure. All cruising distances and times are approximations and are subject to local navigation restrictions at the time you cruise, planned or otherwise, which may also require you to deviate from the itinerary shown. Please check advertised opening times of sights, attractions and restaurants to avoid disappointment – some may need to be booked in advance. All meals, entry fees and tour tariffs are payable at your own expense. Attractions, restaurant and even locks and/or stretches of the waterway may be closed or can close without notice.
We’d love to hear from you
We’ve tried our very best to ensure the accuracy of the information we’ve provided. If you have followed all or some of this itinerary and have found something isn’t quite right, or perhaps you have some helpful tips and pointers that we could add which might be useful to your fellow boaters, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at: itineraries@leboat.com
Image credits
Castelnaudary: Profburp, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons | St Roch Locks: @Castelnaudary Tourisme | Villepinte Lock: @OTI Au Cœur des Collines Cathares – Vincent Photographies | Bram: APB11, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons | Sully Elm: René Hourdry, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons | La Cité de Carcassonne & Place Carnot: @Julien Roche_Ville de Carcassonne | Narbonnaise Gate, La Cité de Carcassonne: Office de Tourisme de Carcassonne | Cugarel Windmill: @ Olivier Alvear