What if for the next vacation, we opted for an experience that allows us to slow down time and enjoy the elements around us? It's not a trip by car, train or bike, but on board a boat! River cruising is attracting more and more families and groups of friends who want to experience the joys of life on board. If river tourism is possible in various regions of France, one place in particular stands out: the unmissable Canal du Midi. With its beautiful natural landscapes, its historic villages along the way and its generous sunshine all year round, Pierre-Paul Riquet's work is the perfect place to enjoy a pleasant interlude
The Canal du Midi, a wealth of riches
With its 360 km and its 328 locks, bridges, tunnels and aqueducts, the Canal du Midi is an incredible place to discover a part of southern France along the water. Since 1996, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Choosing to hire a boat on the Canal du Midi is an opportunity to practice slow tourism, which leads holidaymakers to appreciate the elements that make up the landscape, from the vineyards to the black mountains and the medieval towns that reveal a rich historical heritage. Along the way, plane trees, cypresses and umbrella pines offer natural shelter to enjoy a picnic based on good local products. The cruise also allows you to take your bikes and explore the area. For example, you can reach a lake or a beach and enjoy a few moments of swimming and relaxing in the sun
The advantage of the Canal du Midi is that you can choose your direction. Thus, by heading east and south, you will discover the impressive Malpas tunnel and its 173 meters long, then you will stop in Castelnaudary to taste a delicious cassoulet. Then come the 9 locks of Fonsérannes, unique with a length of 312 meters and a difference in level of 21.5 meters, and classified as historical monuments. We can continue with Aigues-Mortes and the discovery of the old medieval town. Chapels, ramparts, the place is simply wonderful. In the surroundings, a trip to the Camargue Ardoise is also an opportunity to observe the fauna and flora, and to marvel at the beauty of the natural landscape. Heading south along the Canal du Midi is also an opportunity to end a trip with your feet in the water, on the Mediterranean. You can start by stopping off in Narbonne, before taking advantage of the clear, gentle waters of the Mediterranean to swim
On the Canal du Midi, you can also head west towards Toulouse. You will then pass by the Thau lake and its incredible biodiversity, before taking a break in the city of Carcassonne. Its castle, its ramparts and its gourmet addresses always leave sweet memories. And if you feel like it, why not continue beyond Toulouse, and take the Canal de Garonne to Bordeaux? There too, superb nature, architecture and wine tours await the sailors.
A peaceful life on board
Sailing on the Canal du Midi means having the chance to embark on a boat that you can drive without a licence. River cruising is therefore suitable for everyone. You can leave as a couple, with children, with a group of friends and even up to 12 people! On board, all the comforts are there for a pleasant trip: comfortable beds, a fully equipped kitchen area, and depending on the boat, a garden lounge with a covered terrace, a space to relax at the front of the boat and even a swimming pool to cool off and please the little ones
You can travel comfortably, at a pace that is conducive to relaxation and observation. Life on board means taking the time to contemplate the details of the landscape, sitting in the sun to read a book or to doze off, and then preparing a few good meals to share, based on the best regional products gathered on the markets. Everyone is a real sailor on the boat and takes pleasure in participating in the life on board
To put it plainly, a river cruise on the Canal du Midi is an unusual holiday, rich in anecdotes, in the discovery of landscapes and heritage, but also a wonderful opportunity to meet other cruise passengers.
