Carcassonne is one of the communes of the department of Aude and is located between Narbonne and Toulouse in the Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées region. Perched above the valley of the Aude Grande, this magnificent and beautiful medieval city is visible from Narbonne. With its many sites and places of interest, it is clearly one of the most visited regions in France.
Carcassonne: an unusual place of a thousand wonders
A favorite of lovers of beautiful architecture and a treasure for art lovers, the city of Carcassonne has preserved its most beautiful historical remains. Seen from the motorway towards Narbonne, the city appears majestic with its 3 kilometers of ramparts, 52 towers and magnificent castles. Extensive restoration work undertaken during the 19th century has also enabled it to find a place of choice on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A stopover in this largest fortified city in Europe will certainly transport you to another era! Your immersion begins at the Pont Vieux (Old Bridge) even before you reach the entrance. You will then pass through the impressive Porte Narbonnaise, the main entrance to the city, and two gigantic towers. Your stroll continues to the Château Comtal and then to the Romanesque and Gothic Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, built in the 11th century. The latter has the most beautiful stained glass windows in the Midi.
Activities in a magnificent setting in Carcassonne
Before leaving this timelessly charming city and veering off to some fun pastimes, consider taking a short gastronomic break at Place Carnot, opposite the Neptune Fountain. The area is renowned for serving the best cuisine in the Aude. On the menu, fougasse aux fritons (a type of flatbread), cassoulet de Carcassonne, and Carcassonnais, all washed down with a good Minervois.
After this little gastronomic journey, get ready for a little stroll through Cathar country. Whether on foot, by bike or by river boat, the wonderful landscapes of Carcassonne promise you a magnificent change of scenery. If you want to travel far without too much effort, consider river cruises/river boats in Carcassonne. You can take a long trip along the Canal du Midi to Lake Cavayère. Relaxation, pedalos, beach volleyball and even treetop adventures await you at the lake!
Sailing itineraries from Carcassonne to the east: 7 days
Carcassonne is famous for being a medieval city and especially the city of the Cathars, who long resisted the power of the French kings (the Cathars were considered heretics by the French kings). The city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, for a group of places and monuments: the count's castle, the basilica of Saint-Nazaire and other holy places. The gastronomy is famous throughout France with its local products from the Languedoc (duck, goose liver pâté, bourride de Bages, etc.).
Practical information
- Starting point: Carcassonne
- Arrival point: Carcassonne
- Total km: 122 km
- Total hours: 23 hrs 12 mins
- Total number of locks: 36 locks
Summary of your itinerary from Carcassonne
Carcassonne >>> Trèbes (13 km / 3 hrs 07 mins / 6 locks)
Trèbes possesses, in addition to its historical heritage, all the infrastructures of a modern city. On the cultural side, there is the church, the Capuchin convent, but also much older remains such as the Mourral enclosure (Neolithic remains). Another not insignificant point is the Orbiel aqueduct deck, which is unique on the Canal du Midi.
Trèbes >>> Marseillette (9 km / 1 hr 22 min / 1 lock)
Marseillette is located in the urban area of Carcassonne between Trèbes and Puichéric. You can visit the Clock Tower which dominates the village.
Marseillette >>> La redorte (12 km / 2 hrs 45 mins / 5 locks)
A commune in the Minervois region on the Canal du Midi at the confluence of the Aude and the Argent-Double. This village is built around its 18th-century castle. You can also discover the Argent-Double spillway, which allows the hydraulic system of the canal to function properly, and the dînée, a former stop for boatmen and travelers.
La Redorte >>> Homps (6 km / 1 hr / 1 lock)
Homps is a small, friendly village in Languedoc, a former stop on the Roman road. It is renowned for its wine and is also home to the Maison du Vin Minervois. The Roman heritage is therefore present, but there is also a significant legacy of the orders of the Hospitallers and then the Knights of Malta (the tower and the village chapel). The Lac de Jouarnes and its water sports center are a great place for families to relax and have fun.
Homps >>> Argens (6 km / 1 hr 45 min / 4 locks)
The commune of Argens Minervois is crossed by the Canal du Midi and is bordered to the south by the river Aude. It takes its name from the geographical site composed of sandstone and clay (Argilla in Latin). Halfway between the Mediterranean Sea (35 km) and the Montagne Noire, it enjoys a privileged location in the heart of a region with a rich past (the Cathar Castles, the City of Carcassonne, etc.).
Argens >>> Roubia (4 km / 0 hr 45 min / 1 lock)
We pass the Canal du Midi at Roubia through the Argens lock (which is the busiest on the canal). This is because after the Canal there are no more locks until Béziers. We can also see the Répudre aqueduct.
Roubia >>> Paraza (2 km / 0 hr 15 min / 0 locks)
Paraza is a small village, but you can visit its beautiful church in the small historic center: Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, as well as the Répudre canal bridge.
Paraza >>> Le Somail (9 km / 1 hr 07 min / 0 locks)
Le Somail is a hamlet that gained its reputation in conjunction with the construction of the Canal du Midi. It developed as a stopping place, in particular with the hamlet's inn, and a port specifically for this use. There is an old humpback stone deck, as well as "the icehouse", which is a vaulted circular building with two levels separated by a floor (the only one remaining on the Canal du Midi).
Le Somail >>> Carcassonne (61 km / 11 hr 06 min / 18 locks)
Carcassonne is famous for being a medieval city and, above all, the city of the Cathars, who resisted the authorities for a long time (they were heretics according to the kings of France). The city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, for a group of sites and monuments: the Count's castle, the Saint-Nazaire basilica and other holy sites. The gastronomy is famous throughout France with its local products from the Languedoc (duck, goose liver pâté, bourride de Bages, etc.).
Sailing itinerary from Carcassonne to the West: 7 days
Practical information
- Base of departure: Carcassonne
- Arrival base: Carcassonne
- Total km: 110.5 km
- Total hours: 25 hrs 16 mins
- Total number of locks: 46 locks
Summary of your itinerary from Carcassonne
Carcassonne >>> Caux et Sauzens (11 km / 2 h 07 min / 3 Locks)
Eight kilometers from Carcassonne, Caux-et-Sauzens is trying to preserve its rural character and its vineyards. It is the ideal place to get away from civilization for an afternoon and contemplate nature.
Caux et Sauzens >>> Bram (13 km / 2 hrs 07 mins / 2 locks)
Bram is a charming commune in the Aude (province of Lauragais) steeped in history. Its economic influence corresponds with the creation of two important trade routes: the Voie d'Aquitaine linking Toulouse and Narbonne, then the Canal du Midi a few centuries later. Bram has a rich historical heritage, with its church surrounded by the famous "circulades" (concentric circles of stones typical of this region), its Londat castle, but also, more recently, the Parc des Essars and the "Eburomagus" archaeology center.
Bram >>> Castelnaudary (16.05 km / 5 hours 03 mins / 12 locks)
Castelnaudary is the world capital of cassoulet, so it is a major stop on your culinary tour. It is also home to the French Foreign Legion. Other features of the town include the Moulin de Curagel, which offers an incredible, uninterrupted view of the town and the Lauragais plain, as well as the Chapel or Apothecary, which was built to support the needs of the hospital.
Castelnaudary >>> Le Ségala (11 km / 2 hrs 36 mins / 5 locks)
Le Ségala is a natural region of France that extends to the west of the department of Aveyron and to the north of the Tarn. It is a geological region. Le Ségala, "Land of 100 Valleys," has numerous hiking trails between streams and rivers.
Ségala >>> Montesquieu-Lauragais (4 km / 0 hr 45 min / 1 lock)
Montesquieu-Lauragais is located in the Lauragais region, on the Canal du Midi, a few kilometers from Toulouse. You can visit the Gothic-style Church of Saint-Jacques le Majeur with its wall belfry.
Montesquieu lauragais >>> Carcassonne (55 km / 12 h 38 min / 23 locks)
Carcassonne is famous for being a medieval city and especially the city of the Cathars, who resisted the authorities for a long time (they were heretics according to the kings of France). The city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, for a group of sites and monuments: the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and other holy places. The gastronomy is famous throughout France with its local products from the Languedoc (duck, goose liver pâté, bourride de Bages, etc.).
Practical information for a yacht charter in Carcassonne
How do I choose a river boat to sail in Carcassonne?
We offer a wide range of riverboats for charter from Carcassonne to sail on the Canal du Midi. Some ranges are more comfortable, such as Horizon or Pénichettes, but are available at higher prices. The smallest models of river boats have 2 cabins, so you can easily go on a cruise for two! However, it is not possible to sail alone because maneuvering alongside the locks requires two people on board.
Another advantage of the yacht charter in Carcassonne is that you don't need a license. A 30-minute training session at the departure base will enable you to quickly take control of the boat. With an average speed of 8 km/h and simple maneuvers, driving a river boat without a license does not present any particular difficulties.
This is one of the advantages of river cruises, which Robert greatly appreciated when he went on a trip with his family on the Canal du Midi with Filovent: "It's great because when you arrive at the base, they show you how to maneuver the boat in 20 minutes and you can set off straight away. It gives you a very pleasant feeling of freedom".
What are the rates for a yacht charter in Carcassonne?
The table below gives you an idea of the average prices for a river cruise in Carcassonne, for a period of one week. Note that these prices are a dead reckoning and may vary depending on several factors (season, model and size of the boat).
For more information on prices and yacht charter, please don't hesitate to contact our team of advisors!
| Type of river boat | High Season July and August | Mid-Season June and September | Low Season April, May and October |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 cabins | 2,000 USD | 1,500 USD | 1,000 USD |
| 3 cabins | 3,000 USD | 2,000 USD | 1,500 USD |
| 4 cabins | 3,500 USD | 3,000 USD | 2,000 USD |
The locks you will encounter during your navigation close to Carcassonne
With its 240 kilometers of waterways and 63 locks, the Canal du Midi offers pleasure boaters a wonderful navigation area for a river trip. All the locks are electric. Some are single, double or triple, with chambers connected by intermediate doors.
The locks on the Canal du Midi are guarded by lock keepers who control the gates, but it's up to you to do the necessary maneuvering! When he told me about his experience of a yacht charter with Filovent, Raymond Csurda explained that you have to be patient when going through the locks, especially during the summer period. He adds that it is important to be in good physical condition: "Booking a cruise on the Canal du Midi allows you to discover the manual locks. In fact, there are no automatic locks. You have to get off the boat, go to the bank and go and see the lock keeper while another member of the crew maneuvers the boat."
Opening hours of the locks on the Canal du Midi
| March, April and October | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m |
| May to September | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 7 p.m |
Why rent a boat in Carcassonne?
For all those who love river navigation, river cruises on the Canal du Midi are a must for European river tourism! Sailing along the canal on board a boat that does not require a license offers a unique opportunity to discover picturesque villages and Mediterranean landscapes full of vineyards and pine trees. Over 300 years old, the Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest historical construction sites in France and was undertaken at the end of the 17th century by Pierre-Paul Riquet. Even today, the round and oval locks of the canal dating from that period continue to serve pleasure boaters aboard their comfortable river boats. Carcassonne is the ideal starting point for exploring the Canal du Midi!
With family or friends, a yacht charter from Carcassonne will give you the opportunity to enjoy multiple stopovers near villages to stock up or for the purpose of discovery. License-free boats are equipped with ropes and stakes that allow you to berth along the river for picnics or bike rides.
Good to know
| Number of boats available | 1 190 |
|---|---|
| Average price per week | $2,436 |
| Minimum weekly price | $794 |
| Maximum price per week | $4,662 |