River Boat & Licence-Free Houseboat Hire in Castelnaudary

Famous as the world capital of cassoulet, Castelnaudary is also the town where the Canal du Midi was inaugurated in 1681, and one of the most sought-after bases for a licence-free river cruise in France. With Filovent, you can hire a barge without a licence from Castelnaudary from around €1,000 per week in low season. Set halfway between Toulouse and Carcassonne, in the Aude department, the town opens onto the Grand Bassin, the largest stretch of water on the Canal du Midi, just above the Saint-Roch lock staircase. The Canal du Midi is also one of the finest settings for a river cruise in France and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The types of boat to hire in Castelnaudary

In Castelnaudary, barge hire is offered on river hire boats that are easy to handle and accessible without a licence. The choice depends mainly on the size of your crew and the level of comfort you are looking for:

• The small models (2 cabins): perfect for a cruise as a couple or in a small group (up to 4 people). It is the most affordable option for discovering river cruising.
• The mid-size models (3 cabins): ideal for families or friends, they comfortably accommodate 5 to 6 people with a good balance between living space and budget.
• The large models (4 cabins and over): designed for groups, they allow up to 8 to 10 people to set off while keeping privacy and comfort on board.
• The premium ranges (Horizon, Pénichette): more spacious and better equipped, they offer superior comfort at a higher price.

To help you choose the right model, see our FAQ on the barge and pénichette. Please note: it is not possible to navigate alone, as the manoeuvres near the locks require at least two people on board.

The services we offer for your boat hire in Castelnaudary

Here are the different options we offer for hiring a boat in Castelnaudary:

• Licence-free boat hire: this is the standard option on the Canal du Midi. No licence is required, and around 30 minutes of training at the departure base is enough to get to grips with the boat. You enjoy a fully private cruise, with family or friends.
• Return navigation: you set off from Castelnaudary and come back to it at the end of your stay. The simplest option, ideal for a first cruise.
• One-way navigation: you leave the boat at another port (Carcassonne, Homps, Argens-Minervois…) to cover more distance without retracing your route. You will pay delivery fees depending on your arrival base.
• On-board options: bicycles, pets welcome depending on the range and the operator… everything you need to make the most of the stopovers and towpaths along the canal. For a short first experience, you can also discover the weekend-on-a-barge option on the Canal du Midi.

How much does boat hire in Castelnaudary cost?

Canal boat hire in Castelnaudary starts from around €1,000 per week in low season for a 2-cabin barge, rising to about €2,000 per week in high season (July and August). The table below gives you a rough idea of the average prices for barge hire, for a one-week period. These prices are estimates and may vary depending on the season, the model and the size of the boat.

The price includes: the boat hire, the handover, technical assistance during the cruise, bed linen and crockery on board.

The price does not include: fuel consumption, the end-of-stay cleaning package, the deposit, the options (bicycles at an extra cost, pets), any delivery fees on one-way trips and provisioning.

We advise you to take out our cancellation insurance for your boat hire in Castelnaudary. It covers every member of the crew, whereas individual insurance or cover via your bank card will only cover the holder.

We also encourage our customers to take out the deposit waiver insurance. Near the locks, a minor mishap can happen even to careful boaters (a knock in a lock chamber, damage to the rudder or propeller…). This insurance lets you recover a significant part of your deposit in the event of navigation-related damage.

For more information on prices and boat availability, feel free to get in touch with our team of advisers!

Where to cruise from Castelnaudary?

Castelnaudary lies about 40 km from Carcassonne and 60 km from Toulouse by canal. Two main directions are open to you:

From Castelnaudary to Carcassonne (heading east)

You pass through Bram and its wine-growing villages before reaching the medieval city of Carcassonne, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey covers around 40 km at 8 km/h and takes roughly 1 to 2 days, depending on the lock crossings. It is an ideal stage for extending the adventure with a barge hire in Carcassonne. Going further, you reach Trèbes, Homps and Le Somail, towards the Mediterranean.

From Castelnaudary to Toulouse (heading west)

You cross the Naurouze watershed, the dividing point of the waters and the highest point of the canal (189 m), then Avignonet and Gardouch as you head up towards the "Ville Rose" and barge hire in Toulouse. Allow around 60 km and 18 locks, that is two days of cruising.

To plan your stages, see our FAQ explaining at what speed a riverboat travels and how far you can go in a day.

When to cruise on the Canal du Midi?

The best time to cruise from Castelnaudary is in May-June or September: mild temperatures of around 20 to 25 °C and locks that are less crowded than at the height of summer. Overall, the cruising season on the Canal du Midi runs from March to November. In winter, the canal closes for the chômage period, that is the annual closure of navigation during which Voies Navigables de France maintains the locks and banks.

The locks follow opening hours that vary with the season:

Remember to plan your stages around the locks' midday break, especially in high season when the wait can be longer.

Cruising conditions on the Canal du Midi

Cruising on the Canal du Midi is easy and accessible to everyone: the speed is limited to 8 km/h, there is no current and the manoeuvres remain simple. Along its entire route, the canal stretches over 240 km of navigable waterways and 63 locks between Toulouse and the Étang de Thau; from Castelnaudary, you explore its central section. The canal offers an exceptional area to discover, with its characteristic oval-chamber locks, including the Saint-Roch staircase, which links four successive chambers just below the town.

The locks have assisted controls and are mostly staffed by lock-keepers; the mooring manoeuvres, however, remain the crew's responsibility. If you are new to river cruising, our FAQ explains what a lock is and how to go through it with peace of mind.

Good news for beginners: the hire barges are designed for the canal's gauge (depth of about 2 m, humpback bridges) and can pass everywhere. You have no draught or height calculation to make, as the boat handed over at the base is suited to the route.

The locks are staffed by lock-keepers who operate the gates, but it is up to you to carry out the manoeuvres! During his stay with Filovent, Raymond Csurda told us that you need to be patient when going through the locks, especially in summer, and that good physical fitness is an asset: "Booking a cruise on the Canal du Midi means discovering the manual locks. There are no automatic locks. You have to get off the boat, go onto the bank and over to the lock-keeper while another crew member handles the boat."

Do you need a licence to hire a boat in Castelnaudary?

No. No navigation licence is required to hire a barge on the Canal du Midi from Castelnaudary. Around 30 minutes of training, given at the departure base, is enough to get to grips with the boat. At a speed of 8 km/h and with simple manoeuvres, handling poses no particular difficulty, even for a first cruise with the family.

It is in fact one of the advantages of river cruising that Robert greatly appreciated, having cruised on the Canal du Midi with his family and Filovent: "It's great, because when you arrive at the base they show you in 20 minutes how to handle the boat and off you go. It gives a very pleasant feeling of freedom."

The only requirement: there must be at least two people on board, one steering the boat while the other handles the lines when going through the locks.

What to do in Castelnaudary during your stopover?

Castelnaudary is more than just its harbour: it is above all the world capital of cassoulet. Make the most of your stopover to meet local producers, take home regional specialities and try cooking it yourself. Wine lovers will appreciate the neighbouring appellations, such as Malepère and Cabardès.

As for heritage, the town itself is something of an open-air museum. Among the places to discover:

• the Saint-Michel Collegiate Church, a Gothic-style building from the 13th century;
• the Notre-Dame de Pitié chapel;
• the Cugarel windmill, an old windmill emblematic of the town;
• the Saint-Papoul abbey, a few kilometres away;
• the Présidial, a witness to Castelnaudary's judicial history.

About thirty kilometres away by road (the lake is not connected to the canal), Lake Saint-Ferréol is well worth a day trip: swimming, pedalos and canoeing at the foot of the reservoir that feeds the Canal du Midi. Back at the quay, the harbour of Castelnaudary, in its green setting, offers all amenities and a river-tourism office, making it as practical as it is pleasant a stopover.

Useful information for your boat hire in Castelnaudary

How long does it take to go from Castelnaudary to Carcassonne by barge?

Allow roughly 1 to 2 days of cruising, that is around 40 km at 8 km/h, taking the lock crossings into account. It is one of the most popular return cruises from Castelnaudary for a short break.

How do you get to Castelnaudary?

Castelnaudary has an SNCF railway station on the Toulouse-Narbonne line, easily reached by train. By air, Toulouse-Blagnac airport is about 60 km away and Carcassonne-Salvaza airport about 40 km from the departure base.

Can you cruise alone on the Canal du Midi?

No. Even though handling is simple, going through the locks requires at least two people on board: one steering and one to manage the lines. That is why even the smallest models have a minimum of two cabins.

Can you bring bicycles or a pet on board?

Yes, in most cases. Many boats can be fitted with bicycles to explore the towpaths, and pets are often allowed. These options depend on the boat's range and the operator: remember to mention it to your adviser when booking.

Is the Canal du Midi open all year round?

No. Cruising is possible from March to November. In winter, the canal closes for the chômage, the annual maintenance period for the locks and banks carried out by Voies Navigables de France.

What does chômage mean on the Canal du Midi?

Chômage is the annual closure of the Canal du Midi, during which Voies Navigables de France maintains the locks and banks. It usually takes place in winter (generally from December to February), which is why the cruising season runs from March to November.

How do you finalise the booking of your boat in Castelnaudary?

As soon as we receive your hire request, an adviser will contact you by phone to understand your cruising plans, then send you boat suggestions by email. Once the boat is chosen, you pay a deposit in your customer area to confirm the booking and secure the boat.