French getaway: cruising on Canal du Midi

If you have not already planned your summer plans for the holidays starting very soon, check out our charming suggestion.

Unbelievably, you can take a cruise in the heart of France and visit the most delightful sceneries and lovely villages in the south west of france.

Canal du Midi, goes from Toulouse to Sète crossing 4 departments on 150 miles. Moreover, other sub canals are clung on to it making it even bigger.

Brief history: 

Before the French Revolution, Canal du Midi was actually called Canal Royal du Languedoc. The project was initiated by king Louis XIV, the famous minister Colbert and an entrepreneur Pierre-Paul Riquet. The three wanted to accomplish one thing: link the Mediterranean to the Atlantic ocean by France. In October 1666 the King signed a construction edict and the construction work officially started on January 1st 1667. Years later the canal was inaugurated.
In 1996 UNESCO recognized the infrastructure as world heritage.  

Today, the canal’s activity still revolves around transportation of goods but also fluvial tourism.

The canal offers different modalities of trip. Indeed, you can either rent a boat by yourself or be a passenger on an organized cruise for a few hours or days or weeks.

Such trips allow you to relax while being able to stop on historic landmarks and visit cities like Toulouse, Castelnaudary, Revel, Carcassonne, Narbonne and discover the sights (sites) and flavors of South-West. 

                 

https://www.canal-du-midi.com/bateau-velo-a-pied/bateau/naviguer/