7-Night Canal du Midi Itinerary: Castelnaudary to Port Cassafières

Explore Castelnaudary

5pm – 6pm

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.

Castelnaudary > Le Clos Fleuri

6pm – 6:30pm

Approx. 30mins | 1 lock

If you’d like to get a feel for your boat before your first full day of cruising, consider taking a short introductory cruise this evening. Leave the Grand Bassin and make your way towards the Saint-Roch Locks – a gentle and rewarding first lock to navigate, with plenty of space and time to build your confidence.

After passing through the lock, continue for another 10–15 minutes along the canal before mooring up ahead of Gay Lock. There are several informal mooring spots along this stretch, offering a peaceful and convenient place to spend your first night on board.

This short cruise is a great opportunity to practise steering and mooring at a relaxed pace, while also positioning you closer to Le Clos Fleuri for dinner.

If you’d prefer to stay overnight near the base instead, Le Clos Fleuri is just a 25-minute walk away. Alternatively, head into the heart of Castelnaudary to enjoy La Maison du Cassoulet, or L’Atelier MT, which opens on Saturday evenings.

Dinner at Le Clos Fleuri, Castelnaudary

7pm – 9pm

From your mooring, it’s approximately a 10–15-minute walk back towards the restaurant along the sidewalk, making for an easy and enjoyable evening ashore. 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

Castelnaudary > Pexiora

8:30am – 12noon

Approx. 3hrs 30 mins | 14 locks

Continue your descent through one of the most lock-intensive sections on the canal. Having completed your first lock yesterday, you’ll now settle into a steady rhythm as you work through the remaining flight.

Explore Pexiora

12:15pm – 2:30pm

The charming village of Pexiora lies around 2 km from the canal and is well worth the walk or cycle through the surrounding countryside. Once there, stop by the excellent Malbert David bakery to pick up fresh provisions for lunch-on-the-go. Be sure to arrive before 1pm, when the bakery closes for the day.

Pexiora > Villepinte

3pm – 4pm

Approx. 1hr | 1 lock

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. Stop by the bakery, Boulangerie Escande, to pick up some freshly baked goods for breakfast on board tomorrow morning. Open from 4:30pm -7pm but closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Villepinte > Bram

8am – 9:15am

Approx. 1hr 15mins | 3 locks

Explore Bram

9:30am – 10:30am

A pleasant walk or cycle along a tree-lined avenue leads from the moorings into the village, where you’ll find several restaurants, including a pizzeria opposite the museum, as well as a grocery store, butcher, pâtisseries and other local shops. From here, continue to Téléski Nautique.

Water-skiing at Teleski Nautique, Bram

11am – 12noon

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 meter 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

Lunch at Téléski Nautique, Bram

12noon – 1pm

Enjoy lunch on Lake Buzerens, home to Teleski Nautique de Bram. After some fun 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. +33 (0)4 68 79 74 14.

Bram > Carcassonne

1:30pm – 5:55pm

Approx. 4hrs 25mins | 6 locks

Explore Carcassonne (lower town area)

6pm – 7pm

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, which you’ll explore tomorrow. 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.

Dinner at Chez Fred, Carcassonne (lower town area)

7:30pm – 9:30pm

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

Explore La Cité de Carcassonne (the citadel)

9am – 12noon

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.

Lunch at Le Blé Noir crêperie, Carcassonne (lower town area)

12noon – 1pm

Enjoy delicious crêpes at Le Blé Noir crêperie for a relaxed meal before departure, only a 10-minute walk from the port. Le Blé Noir 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

Carcassonne > Marseillette

1:30pm – 6:25pm

Approx. 4hrs 55mins | 10 locks

Marseillette > Homps

8am – 12:40pm

Approx. 4hrs 40mins | 11 locks

Lunch at Les Tonneliers, Homps

1pm – 2:30pm

Cross the footbridge by the base and in a couple of minutes you’ll be there. Dine in a beautiful and elegant garden setting serving fresh French and Mediterranean cuisine. Booking recommended: +33(0)4 34 44 20 19 | lestonneliers.fr | Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Homps > Paraza

4:10pm – 6:10pm

Approx. 2hrs | 6 locks

Paraza > Le Somail

8:30am – 9:35am

Approx. 1hr 5mins | 0 locks

On this stretch of the canal, you’ll pass over the Répudre Canal Bridge, one of the only canal bridges built by the canal’s famous designer, Pierre-Paul Riquet. By passing over the waters of the Répudre, it avoided the damage that its waters caused to the canal during floods. Completed in 1676, it was the first canal bridge built in France and is reputed to be the second in the world.

The Port du Somail is subject to a mooring fee – please contact the Harbour Master’s Office for more details. +33 9 84 58 81 38 | +33 7 44 90 00 06

Before you head out to explore

9:45am – 10:15am

Stock up on a few treats from the grocery barge, conveniently located near your mooring. Pick up fresh produce, local delicacies and everything you need for a leisurely dinner on board tonight in Colombiers.

Cycle to L’Oulibo

10:20am – 10:40pm

If you added bike rental to your vacation booking, we suggest cycling 20 minutes to the north of Somail to visit the The Olive Oil Cooperative Oulibo. Or, the tourist information office (next to Nicols) may arrange a taxi for you.

Explore the Olive Oil Cooperative L’Oulibo

11am – 12:30pm

Enjoy a 1.5hr guided tour (morning tours start at 10:30am & 11am on weekdays and 11am on weekends) through the olive groves to learn about farming olives and the production of olive oil, including a sound and light show and tasting. Book a tour in advance: +33 4 68 41 88 84 or loulibo.com/guided-visit (prices for adults are from €7 and from €5 for children. All tours are offered in French or English).

Lunch on board, Le Somail

1pm – 2pm

Enjoy a quick lunch on board before a slightly longer cruising stretch, taking you through the Malpas Tunnel and on to Colombiers for the evening.

Le Somail > Colombiers

2pm – 6:25pm

Approx. 4hrs 25mins | 0 locks

As you pass through Capestang, the stone bridge you pass under has the reputation of being the lowest on the canal (the lowest is actually in Carcassonne). Its curved shape makes it quite tricky to pass under – so take it slow and steady.

Along the way, you’ll also pass through the remarkable Malpas Tunnel, which cuts beneath the hill of Ensérune. Secretly excavated by Pierre-Paul Riquet, the tunnel was considered an extraordinary engineering feat for its time. Work was originally halted after unstable sandstone was discovered, but determined to keep the canal project alive, Riquet continued digging in secret and completed the tunnel in just eight days. Measuring 173m long, 6m wide and 8.5m high, it became the very first navigable canal tunnel in Europe.

Note: There’s no room for passing other boats, so check that passage is clear first, and sound your horn before entering.

Colombiers > Fonseranes Locks

7am – 7:45am

Approx. 0hrs 45mins | 0 locks

An earlier start than usual is recommended today. To ensure you’re included in the first group of boats descending the Fonseranes Locks, aim to arrive around 20 minutes before the locks open, particularly during the busier months of May and September when traffic on the canal is heavier.

We recommend setting off as close to the opening times as possible to help avoid longer waiting times during busy periods.

Fonseranes Locks descending times:

• 26 Mar – 30 Apr: 8:40am – 9:25am
• 2 May – 30 Sept: 8:10am – 9:25am
• 1 Oct – 2 Nov: 7:40am – 8:25am

Descend the Fonseranes Locks

8:10am – 9:40pm

Approx. 1hr 30mins | 7 locks

One of Pierre-Paul Riquet’s greatest engineering achievements, the Fonseranes Locks are among the Canal du Midi’smost iconic sights. This impressive staircase of locks was originally built with eight chambers, allowing boats to climb 21.5 metres over a distance of 300 metres. Today, six chambers remain in operation, continuing to offer boaters an unforgettable cruising experience.

Please note: As mentioned above, there are set times for passing through the lock flight, so it’s important to arrive in good time. You’ll be allowed to start descending the Fonseranes Locks between 8:10am – 9:25am (from 8:40 between late Mar – late Apr), and between as early as 7:40 and 8:25 (early Oct – early Nov). Missing your allocated slot may mean waiting until later in the day, or even overnight, for the next available passage.

The journey through the staircase takes around an hour and is fully managed by the lock keepers, who expertly coordinate multiple boats through each chamber. Your role is simply to steer carefully into the locks and keep the boat steady using your mooring lines.

After you’re in the first lock, it is easier to send one or two crew members lock-side with the lines (when it is safe to do so) and keep them there for the duration. Take your time, enjoy the atmosphere and don’t feel rushed – passing through Fonseranes is all part of the adventure, and one of the highlights of cruising the Canal du Midi.

Fonseranes Locks > Béziers

9:45am – 10:25pm

Approx. 40mins | 2 locks

Cruise towards the historic city of Béziers, passing peaceful canal scenery and navigating two easy locks along the way. Moor up at Maison Batelière marina before setting off to explore one of the oldest cities in southern France.

Explore Béziers

10:30pm – 1:30pm

It’s time to make your way into historic Béziers – from the marina, it’s just a 25-minute walk or 10-minute cycle into the heart of the city. It’s the capital of Languedoc’s wine industry and birthplace of Pierre-Paul Riquet, who was responsible for building the Canal du Midi. Like all cities with a long history, Béziers is best discovered by ambling through its medieval streets, its bright squares and its leafy parks. 

Visit the majestic St. Nazaire Cathedral, located on a rocky mount which affords a magnificent panorama across the city and its five bridges, before enjoying lunch nearby. You’ll find all the necessary shops and plenty of restaurants in Béziers.

Béziers > Port Cassafières

3:30pm – 6pm

Approx. 2hrs 30mins | 3 locks

This is the final stretch of your journey, so sit back, relax and enjoy a gentle cruise back to Port Cassafières.

Explore Portiragnes Plages

6:30pm – 7:15pm

Walk down to east end of Plage de la Redoute ( 20minutes) and then enjoy a pre-dinner stroll along the sand. You can’t see any buildings from the beach so it feels wonderfully remote and wild. When you reach the Maui Plage Snack bar – exit the beach to find a cluster of restaurants to enjoy dinner at.