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Beziers to Carcassonne
offered by supplier M08497 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 7
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 6
people
Destination(s):
France
Specialty Categories:
Barging
Season: April - November
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 5300 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 5300 US Dollar (USD)
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Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Saturday: Arrival at Clair de Lune around 4:30 pm will be followed by a Captain's champagne reception, an introduction of the crew, and an outline of the cruise. There will be a short cruise to the first evening's mooring in Villeneuve-les-Beziers.
Day 2, Sunday: This morning the barge cruises up the canal to the prearranged rendezvous to ascend the seven-locks of Foncerannes in Beziers. Shortly afterwards lunch is served. The afternoon's cruise involves picturesque views of the tree-lined canal as well as the canal's only tunnel at Malpas. You can enjoy the Jacuzzi and sundeck or perhaps cycle or walk at your leisure. If there is enough time after mooring then perhaps a private wine-tasting at a chateau or a visit to the Oppidum d'Enserune, a two-thousand year old hilltop archeological city-site near the evening's mooring at the farm of Regismont le Haut.
Day 3, Monday: Today begins with either a visit to the Oppidum or wine-tasting (if no time was available the previous day) followed by a cruise to the village of Capestang. Lunch on deck with a lovely view of the 13th century church. The afternoon we cruise along the meandering canal until the evening's mooring near the village of Argeliers. Active guests may desire an invigorating cycle along little vineyard tracks to Quarante to view its 1000-year-old Romanesque church, a true gem of the Languedoc region.
Day 4, Tuesday: After breakfast we are off to the open-air street market in Olonzac, offering a wide variety of foods, fresh produce, and shops selling Provencal fabrics, books, music, hardware, clothing, and other dry-goods. Depending upon the time, guests may like to visit the Oulibo olive cooperative for a tasting and to shop in its regional products boutique or drive up to the picturesque village of Minerve perched upon its cliff top. Here during the Cathar crusade at the beginning of the 13th century Catholic knights from the north burned alive 150 Cathar 'heretic' priests (known as 'Prefects') because of their differing faith. Lunch on board is followed by cruising near the village of Homps and a stopover in the picturesque hamlet of Le Somail to visit its famous used and rare bookshop and other artisan boutiques.
Day 5, Wednesday: Highlights of a morning visit to Narbonne; founded in 118 B.C. by the Romans as their capital in Gaul, we see the towering 13th century Gothic cathedral and the 100 year old covered market with its wonderful selection of fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese, and many other delicious delicacies. There are also the chariot-rutted paving stones of the Roman road Via Domitia in the central square where one can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino or visit the impressive Archaeological Museum, the Fine Arts Museum or browse in the boutiques along the quaint pedestrian streets. Return to the barge for lunch followed by cruising up through the locks, near the village of Puicheric where we moor overnight.
Day 6, Thursday: Seventeen hundred years of history awaits in the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne with its impressive double walls and 52 towers, its Romanesque and Gothic cathedral with gorgeous 13th century rose windows, and its winding cobblestone streets lined with boutiques. Lunch on board. We continue cruising up through the locks and the 'green cathedral' of overhanging trees to our mooring near Trebes.
Day 7, Friday: After breakfast, disembark Clair de Lune for transfer to your departure point.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Beziers or Carcassonne to the barge and return
- Two crew members: captain and hostess
- Champagne welcome, on board 6 breakfasts and 4 luncheons with local wines
- Two escorted excursions to Carcassonne and Narbonne in our airconditioned minivan
- Use of bicycles.
Price Excludes:
- All dinners, two luncheons in Carcassonne and Narbonne
- Open bar.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Local Culture
Barging
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, ext: 08497
