About Midi - Languedoc

Canal du Midi ~ Carcassonne ~ Robine Canal ~ Narbonne

The Canal du Midi has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in acknowledgement of the astonishing feat carried out by its 17th century architect Pierre-Paul Riquet in linking the Etang du Thau in the south east with the River Garonne in Toulouse, effectively making it possible to convey goods from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Riquet’s audacity in engineering can be seen in the flight of nine characteristically oval-shaped locks at Fonserannes, near the ancient city of Beziers which is famous not just for its 13th century cathedral, but for its bullfighting festival too. If ticking off UNESCO sites is your thing, then you get two for one in Carcassonne, where the canal passes close to the ancient citadel that forms one of the most iconic skylines in the whole country.

The 240 km length of this historic waterway is extraordinarily beautiful, meandering between the vineyards of Corbieres to the south and the Minervois to the north and a visit to the wine town of Minerve, which has been designated as one of the most beautiful in France, is a treat. A diversion along the Canal de la Robine leads to Narbonne, which dates back to Roman times when it was a strategic trading centre, and even today its covered market, supplied by local producers, is a kind of foodie heaven.

► Hotel Barges cruising the Canal du Midi

– [below] In the region: Minervois, Minerve, Canal du Midi, Beziers, Narbonne, Carcassonne –

Minerve ©Ian Cameron | Others ©FW, wikimedia, n/a

Getting to the Midi
Hotel barges often collect and return guests to a pre-agreed Toulouse or Narbonne hotel. French international airports are at Toulouse, Bordeaux – and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. There are also European-flight airports at Carcassonne and Montpellier. TGV express train stations are located at Toulouse, Carcassonne, Narbonne and Montpellier; and many other towns in the region have railway connections.

Find A Barge!

Style: 5* Grand Luxe

EnchantéE W Fleet

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 4 cabins / 8 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

A simply enchanting hotel barge offering exceptionally spacious accommodation for up to 8 passengers, including a sunny deck and spa pool. With luxury... Read more

EleganceOwner Operated

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 3 cabins / 6 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

Reminiscent of the days of the European Grand Tour and the opulence of the Orient Express trains, this beautifully refurbished barge offers sublime... Read more

SavannahOwner Operated

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 3 cabins / 6 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault, Short Stay Option

Cruising along the world-famous Canal du Midi, Savannah is a stunning sight, her warm exterior colours shining in perfect harmony with her... Read more

Roi SoleilOwner Operated

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 3 cabins / 6 guests
  • Cruising: Provence‑Camargue, Midi‑Herault

Roi Soleil is possibly the most distinctively elegant hotel barge - a true river yacht - cruising the French waterways. She is curvaceous on the... Read more

EsperanceOwner Operated

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 3 cabins / 6 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

Charter luxury hotel barge Esperance for a delightful cruise for up to six guests and you'll discover a real French experience on board an authentic... Read more

Johanna MidiOwner Operated

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 2 cabins / 4 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

Owned by the Cowley family for decades, this lovely barge has been restored and refurbished to accommodate just four guests in two spacious suites. ... Read more

AlouetteBelmond

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 2 cabins / 4 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

Just four privileged passengers can charter this luxurious Belmond barge to progress regally along the renowned 17th century Canal du Midi. The... Read more

AmourOwner Operated

  • Style: 5* Grand Luxe
  • Capacity: 1 cabin / 2 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

A rare treat just for two, luxury canal barge Amour is a private floating haven for leisurely and luxurious cruising in France. Once a... Read more

Style: 3* Premier

AthosE W Fleet

  • Style: 3* Premier
  • Capacity: 5 cabins / 10 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

A first-class hotel barge for up to ten guests, Athos is beautifully designed to combine luxury and cosy richness. With smart, contemporary decor and... Read more

AnjodiE W Fleet

  • Style: 3* Premier
  • Capacity: 4 cabins / 8 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

Hotel barge Anjodi creates a charming holiday cruise for 8 passengers in four air-conditioned staterooms on the delightful Canal du Midi. With wood... Read more

SaraphinaOwner Operated

  • Style: 3* Premier
  • Capacity: 2 cabins / 4 guests
  • Cruising: Midi‑Herault

A traditional Dutch barge from the late 1920's Saraphina has been delightfully converted to convey four guests on a graceful and relaxing cruise in... Read more

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BOOK A CRUISE

Our unique understanding and experience will help you find
your perfect hotel barge cruise

We all hate filling in forms, but this really will help us to help you.
Rates and options vary from barge to barge and from week to week throughout the year, so the more information you can provide, the better our response can be – or simply phone and talk to us!

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All enquiries are highly valued and responded-to very promptly (normally within 24 hours).
You will not be pestered, your data privacy is respected, you will not be sent ‘spam’ emails.

Our Expertise – France, Cruising the Waterways and Hotel Barging . . .

We have explored the rivers and canals of France on our own yacht and motor boat since 2003, logging up nearly 10,000km along most waterways, in most regions, at all times of year. Independent, impartial and enthusiastic, we have personally visited and know every hotel barge, every owner-operator and fleet, published on french-waterways.com.

Advice

Friendly advice and expert guidance . . . We’re standing by to help you!

We feature information about 50 wonderful hotel barges, of various sizes and price/style levels, more than 100 individual cruises to choose from every week of the season, in 8 regions across France. Some book flexibly by the cabin, others exclusively charter the entire hotel barge. Quite a choice!

Every one of our hotel barge information pages has been carefully crafted and written by us, from our own unique first hand-hand experience – but we also understand that there’s nothing like speaking to a friendly expert to help see the wood for the trees and make the best possible decision about the vacation cruise of a lifetime.

So please, send us a Booking Enquiry form or just pick up the phone and give us a call. We love France, we love the rivers and canals of France, we love hotel barging – and we love talking about all three!