Boat hire on the Canal du Midi

Located in the south of France, the Canal du Midi has gone from one of the most impressive civil engineering projects of the early modern period to a UNESCO sight of extreme beauty. The best way to see this remarkable feat of construction and navigate the 150 miles of waterways on a Canal du Midi boat holiday.

The canal’s route winds from the city of Toulouse in the country’s Occitanie region down through to the Mediterranean coastal lagoon region of Étang de Thau. Although you can travel from either destination to the other, the most popular and practical route is to start in the city of Toulouse.

Before you hire your own Canal du Midi boat, a tour of the canal’s starting city Toulouse, is not to be missed. Sights such as the Basilica of Saint Sernin, one of the grandest churches in France and the Musée des Augustins, a fine art museum that is up there with some of the best in Europe.

Once you have taken in the city’s many sights, secure your canal boat hire and begin your journey southwards down the Canal du Midi. With the majority of Locaboat holidays starting from Toulouse, the city is a hub for canal boat hire in France.

Starting from Toulouse, the Canal du Midi winds down south, taking in the green banks, flora and fauna on either side of the canal. As the first destination approaches ahead on the long journey to the sea, boaters will come to the Négra Lock. One of the more famous spots along the Canal du Midi canal, Négra Lock, is home to a small chapel and red-bricked aqueduct.

Moving on from Négra Lock and taking your barge rental along the Canal du Midi, you will soon arrive at the Castelnaudary commune, famed for its stone windmill known as Moulin de Cugarel and picturesque rolling foothills and fields.

Castelnaudary is also the home of the world-famous French dish known as cassoulet, and stopping off here to sample the local cuisine is a special highlight. The town also has many restaurants and cafes that boast the best version of this Castelnaudary.

From Castelnaudary, the canal takes you to one of the region’s most historical cities, Carcassonne. Many even choose to begin their Canal du Midi boat hire in Carcassonne, and it is easy to see why. The city is a perfectly preserved citadel, complete with ramparts, castle towers and idyllic medieval buildings contained within the citadel. Either starring your journey here or stopping as you make your way down the canal is a must when navigating the Canal du Midi. Canal du midi barge holidays will move from the epic citadel of Carcassonne towards the town of Narbonne, another historic settlement on the Canal du Midi.

As the Canal du Midi route winds to a close, spirits may be low as your France Canal du Midi cruise holiday is nearly over, yet the jaw-dropping views of the Mediterranean Sea will put a smile back on your face.

The coastal lagoon region of Étang de Thau is the final stop off on the long canal route and what an ending it is. The awe-inspiring coastline of the Mediterranean makes a change from the freshwater of the canal and is the perfect excuse to go for a swim or a little sunbathing on the sun-soaked beaches.

What really makes this area something special is the large stretch of lagoons that straddles the coast and inland of the region. The lagoons are not only a source of incredible natural beauty but are also home to some of France’s most celebrated seafood, including the much-loved Bouzigues Oysters.

Completing the Canal du Midi from Toulouse to Étang de Thau doesn’t mean your French canal holidays have to end right there. There are multiple routes to take, whether it’s branching out onto one of the many other canals in the area or venturing onto other major French attractions such as Montpellier or Nîmes.

Boating holidays in France’s Canal du Midi appeal to a wide range of people because they cover all manner of different activities. From the simple pleasures of boating down the canal and picturesque French countryside to enjoying the many cuisines and food explorations as you go. The one thing that stands out for lovers of history and culture is the multiple historic sites scattered along the canal route, and there are a few more awe-inspiring than the town of Carcassonne.

The ancient citadel can be seen for miles around, looming large on the horizon like something out of a fairy tale. On entering the city itself, the winding medieval ramparts and towers transport you to a time gone by, perfectly preserved in stone. With two UNESCO listings to its name, it is no surprise that Carcassonne attracts millions of visitors every year. You can walk freely around the lices, the area between the inner and outer walls, but you will need to book a guided tour to walk along the ramparts and see the Château Comtal.

Apart from the citadel walls, Carcassonne is home to the impressive Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, a 13th-century church constructed in both the Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. With so much to see and on such a large scale, it is important to allow yourself enough time to see it all.

The medieval sites don’t simply end with Carcassonne; a little further down the Canal du Midi is the medieval village of Minerve. Set atop a rocky outcrop, the village is a vision of extreme natural beauty as well as being a site of historical significance.

This famed settlement has the gruesome title of being the sight of one of the bloodiest sieges of the 13th centuries Albigensian Crusade. The remains of a 13th-century castle and defences still remain in the village, intertwined with many buildings and homes – all of this gives Minerve a unique air of being the quintessential medieval village of southern France.

Those with a little more time in the Minerve area should venture up the rocky outcrop and to the Pont Naturel de Minerve. This natural bridge of rock creates an otherworldly range of caves, caverns and watering holes. This area of natural beauty overlooks the village and provides breathtaking views of the settlement below. Hiking up to the Pont Naturel de Minerve will give boaters a welcome change from the water and provide a chance to stretch their legs with a sun-soaked hike.

The village of Le Somail started life as a purposely designed village by the Canal du Midi architect, Pierre Paul Riquet. The aim of the village was to promote commerce and lifestyle around the canal. It is now arguably one of the canal route’s most picturesque villages and is also known for Le Somail boat hire. One of the key features of the village includes a stone bridge built in the 17th century, known as the le Pont de Saint-Marcel.

This idyllic scene of flowing water, green fields and a charming stone bridge are what draws many to the south of France and the Canal du Midi in the first place. Along with the bridge, Le Somail is home to an 18th-century church that started life as a granary and old ice house. All of these add to the overwhelming charm of the Le Somail, and no journey down the canal is complete without a stop off here.

As well as the numerous historic destinations along the Canal du Midi, barge cruises themselves offer their very own historic spots on the canal itself. Nowhere is this more evident than at the locks of Fonserannes. Located near the town of Béziers, the locks of Fonserannes consists of eight oval-shaped locks and nine different gates – a marvel of engineering and beauty.

These staircase locks, as they are known, are one set of over sixty historic locks that make up the many miles of the Canal du Midi. While you don’t exactly need a special license to operate these locks, you may have to rely on the help of friendly locals to help you out and as historic locks, you need to take extra care. The extra care is also needed at this point of the canal because of its much shallower depth, limiting boaters to 3mph. The locks of Fonserannes are also home to traditional buildings such as stables and the former lock keepers house.

Once you have navigated the famous locks of Fonserannes, a stop off at the hilltop town of Béziers is an easy detour. This historic town looms large over the canal and makes a stunning view as your boat approaches. Stepping out onto the banks here is a must, as the town is both a historical and cultural delight. At the very heart of the town, set on the highest point, is the 14th century Saint-Nazaire Cathedral. This beautiful example of middle Gothic architecture demands a good amount of time to absorb and appreciate.

As well as the cathedral, the town of Béziers has a number of attractions of an artistic nature. One is seamlessly linked with the Canal du Midi itself as it depicts a large bronze statue of the canal’s creator Pierre Paul Riquet. Visiting this statue can be a little homage to the man that made your canal boat holidays possible. Béziers’ Fine Arts Museum continues this artistic theme and is home to a huge range of canvas by top European artist from across the centuries, including Hans Holbein, Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Goetz.

Finding the right type of boat for sailing down the Canal du Midi is one of the most important things to figure out before you set out on your trip. If you’re planning that romantic canal trip for two or simply wish to navigate the Canal du Midi with an easy-to-drive and manoeuvrable boat, then opting for a smaller, compact boat may be the right choice for you. Whether you choose a luxury boat or a more economically sized one, there are smaller boats in both categories.

Although these smaller boats are great for manoeuvring the occasional narrow routes of the Canal du Midi, boaters must remember that fewer supplies can be taken on board. Smaller vessels will also only hold a few people, so if your party is large, it’s more advisable to choose a bigger boat. This may be unnecessary if you are simply using the boat to travel between destinations.