The peaceful Canal du Midi traverses over rivers, and through hills and on its journey from Toulouse to the Mediterranean port of Sête it uses over ninety locks to move nearly one hundred and ninety meters of water.
The Canal du Midi is a small hub of cultural activity, dotted with bistros, restaurants and art galleries that have sprung up in the old lock keepers cottages along side the canal, each offering the perfect opportunity to stop and explore this picturesque landscape.
Languedoc Roussillon, through which the Canal di Midi passes, is home to many small fortified villages and beautiful countryside.
A major wine producing region the Languedoc can also claim to be one of the oldest in France. Famed for its rich, ripe red wines, over 80% of the wine produced in the area is red, one of the most well know of the wines produced is the Vin Doux Naturel, a naturally sweet wine that is often flavoured with peach, and cherry.
The Languedoc Roussillon is also well known for its cuisine. Although not typically French, the cuisine of this region is certainly very creative. A strong reliance on the local produce such as tomatoes, olive oil, thyme, rosemary and sorrel create exciting dishes that are much lighter than their Northern counterparts.
Food is taken very seriously in these parts and lunch should be taken at your leisure. Should you be taken by the need to sit back, watch the world go by after exploring a local village, and you could be forgiven for wanting to do so, your expert guide onboard will be able to advise you on some of the hidden gems of the area.
Béziers
Béziers in Languedoc Roussillon, South of France, is known for two main things in particular, wine and bullfighting. Indeed the perfect time to visit the city is during the four day long feria in mid August when you can combine the twin passions of the town.
Béziers sits atop a wonderful rocky spur which overlooks the plain of the Hérault department, and bordered on three sides by the Orb river and the Canal du Midi. Less frequently visited then some of the other towns in this region; an amble around the small roads and discreet cafes offers a real taste of Southern France.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is the beautiful medieval fortified city in the south of France. Linked by engineering feat that is the Canal du Midi to Béziers, Carcassonne offers a real taste of a long forgotten France.
The area that Carcassonne is reported to have been settled in around 3500 BC, however the hill site named Carsac, by the Celts and Carcasum by the Romans was fortified and recognised as a town around 100 BC. The city has known a great deal of history since it inception and by the middle ages the fiefdom of Carcassonne was recognized as a truly impenetrable fortress.
A UNESCO heritage site the city is a marvel of architecture, however the city is not just towers and old ramparts. It is still a thriving place that houses all you would expect form this part of the world, from small French cafes and shops, to well respected Michelin stared restaurants such as La Barbacane.
