CLAIR
DE LUNE
The
Canal du Midi is one of the oldest canals in Europe. Linking
the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean, this 17th century engineering
feat by Paul Riquet was achieved in only 16 years using the labor
of 16,000 men and women. It is no wonder that this masterpiece
was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.
Discover
this beautiful and magnificent waterway onboard Clair
de Lune, a custom designed barge hotel for the Canal
du Midi. Six guests can enjoy luxury and comfort in the three
spacious twin or queen-bedded air-conditioned cabins. The
very large windows are a great asset.
Canal
du Midi Cruise Itinerary
Bordering
the Mediterranean between the Pyrenean mountains and the Rhone
river valley, our week-long cruise takes you through either Provence
and the Camargue or the Languedoc-Roussillon
regions of Southern France.
Arriving
in 753 BC, long before the Romans, the Greeks introduced grape
vines to these regions. Today, the far-reaching traditions of
winemaking can be appreciated while tasting the excellent wines
now being produced in France’s largest vineyard. Local grape
varieties such as Carignan are grown alongside more recently introduced
Merlot, Chardonnay and the lesser known Viognier. Discover
the “Via Domitia” (118 BC), the oldest Roman Road in
Gaul. Originally intended for military use, this route has stimulated
the exchange of goods and ideas for over 2,000 years.
Barging
in the rural countryside of the Camargue and Provence,
famous for pink flamingos, white horses and black bulls, makes
for an exotic experience. Take in the excitement of a ‘Course
Camarguaise’, the local style bullfight, where young men attempt
to retrieve tassles from the bulls horns. Visit Nimes,
the pearl of the Roman Empire with its 1 st century Roman arena
and the famous ‘maison carrée’; soak-up the atmosphere of Van
Gogh’s adopted home of Arles; and see the Papal palace
in Avignon. Wander through the walled city of Aigues
Mortes, founded by Louis IX in the 11 th century as an embarkation
port for the crusades and is now 5 miles from the Sea.
While
in the Languedoc-Roussillon enjoy glimpses of
the snow-capped Pyrenees or the tranquil beauty of 12 th century
Romanesque Abbeys such as Fontfroide or Caunes-Minervois.
Visit Narbonne, the first Roman settlement in Gaul, with
its lovely 13th century Gothic cathedral and lively covered market.
Among the vineyards, visit the Amphoralis museum built
above an ancient Roman pottery where 3,000 amphoras were produced
daily for shipping wines as far as England and Egypt. Stroll
around the ancient Oppidum d’Ensérune, a sun-drenched
archaeological Gallo-Roman hilltop settlement or explore Carcassonne,
Europe’s largest and most complete medieval walled city. This
“fairy-tale” like castle town is a masterpiece of military architecture.
Barge
cruises can be adapted to your groups special interests. Common
themes include gourmet food & wine tours, art history tours,
golf or cycling, local festivals and cultural events or activities
for families.
(Larger
view)
Deck
Plan
(Larger
view)
Meeting
Point
You
will be picked up with a minibus from a convenient designated
airport or train station close to your cruise embarkation point.
At the end of your cruise you will be accompanied to a convenient
transfer point for your onward journey.
Included
in price