Book Now! Pay Later
Take advantage of our low deposits and secure your boating vacation today with just a 25% deposit. 2nd payment (up to 50%) is due by December 31st, 2024. Balance due 90 days before departure.
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Gold Trusted Service Award
Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
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Boating expertise since 1969
With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water.
Boot
World’s largest fleet
We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people.
Boje
No boat license required
That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.
  • Book Now! Pay Later
    Take advantage of our low deposits and secure your boating vacation today with just a 25% deposit. 2nd payment (up to 50%) is due by December 31st, 2024. Balance due 90 days before departure.
  • Gold Trusted Service Award
    Gold Trusted Service Award
    Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
  • rozet badge
    Boating expertise since 1969
    With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water.
  • Boot
    World’s largest fleet
    We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people.
  • Boje
    No boat license required
    That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.
  • Book Now! Pay Later
    Take advantage of our low deposits and secure your boating vacation today with just a 25% deposit. 2nd payment (up to 50%) is due by December 31st, 2024. Balance due 90 days before departure.
  • Gold Trusted Service Award
    Gold Trusted Service Award
    Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
  • rozet badge
    Boating expertise since 1969
    With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water.
  • Boot
    World’s largest fleet
    We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people.
  • Boje
    No boat license required
    That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.

7nt Castelnaudary RETURN via Carcassonne

7 nights | 80km | 48 locks | Approx. 21 hrs of cruising

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.

View interactive map

Suggested itinerary

1

DAY 1: Arrive in Castelnaudary

0km | 0 locks | Approx. 0 hrs 0 mins of cruising
Arrive

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

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.

Dine

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.

Sleep

Overnight in Castelnaudary

Dine

Breakfast on board

8am - 9am

Cruise

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

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.

Dine

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  |audetourisme.com/fr/fiche/villepinte/les-deux-acacias

Sleep

Overnight in Villepinte

Dine

Breakfast on board

8am - 9am

Cruise

Villepinte > Bram

9:30am - 11am

Approx. 1hr 30mins | 3 locks

Explore

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. 

Dine

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

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. 

Cruise

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

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

Dine

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

Sleep

Overnight in Villesèquelande

Dine

Breakfast on board

8am - 9am

Cruise

Villesèquelande > Carcassonne

9am - 12noon

Approx. 3hrs | 5 locks

Dine

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

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

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.

Dine

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.

Walk

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).

Sleep

Overnight in Carcassonne

Dine

Breakfast on board

8am - 9am

Explore

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.

Dine

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

Cruise

Carcassonne > Château de Serres

1.45pm - 2.15 pm

Approx. 30mins | 0 lock

Explore

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.

Cruise

Château de Serres > Villesèquelande

4.15pm - 6.30pm

Approx. 2hrs15 | 5 locks

Dine

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.

Sleep

Overnight in Villesèquelande

Dine

Breakfast on board

8am - 9am

Cruise

Villesèquelande > Bram

10am - 11:30am

Approx. 1hr 30mins | 1 lock

Dine

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.

Explore

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 

Cruise

Bram > Villepinte

4:30pm - 6pm

Approx. 1hr 30mins | 3 locks

Dine

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

Sleep

Overnight in Villepinte

Dine

Breakfast on board

8am - 9am

Cruise

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

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. 

Dine

Lunch on board, near Pexiora

12noon - 1pm

Cruise

Pexiora > Castelnaudary

1pm - 5pm

Approx. 4 hrs | 14 locks

Explore

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.

Dine

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.

Sleep

Overnight in Castelnaudary

Dine

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)

Arrive

Depart Castelnaudary

9 am