In the department of Aude lies a charming hamlet called Somail. The two graceful decks in half-moon shape delimiting the village give it a beautiful sailing trim. Crossed by the Canal du Midi, which adds a poetic touch, the commune of Somail will satisfy the pleasure boaters in search of a moment of quietude.
A village out of time
Somail is a stopover and a place to take a break on your long cruise along the Canal du Midi. As soon as you arrive in the village, you will be amazed by its beautiful and distinctive architecture. The stone deck serving as the entrance to Somail will particularly catch the attention of lovers of beautiful architecture.
After crossing this deck, dating from the 17th century, you will immediately feel the serenity that reigns in this beautiful hamlet. The main buildings in Somail, built in the 17th century, practically at the same time as the Canal du Midi, form a harmonious whole! You will notice the elegance of the port in the heart of the village, adorned with pretty river boats berthed on the side of the boats. The Chapel of 1693, next to the deck, is equally fascinating. Right next door, you can enjoy a superb view from a welcoming inn. Somail also invites you to take the time to appreciate every moment and recharge your batteries. It makes you want to get lost in its little streets. If you are a lover of old books, a trip to the bookshop will be a moment of ecstasy for you.
Scenic walks
Enjoying Somail also means letting yourself be transported by the trips on the Canal to the conquest of its pleasant green spaces. Let yourself be tempted by the yacht charter in Somail for a dreamy stroll around the hamlet.
Set off to discover the works of Vauban at the Cesse lock. For more excitement, extend your getaway to Gruissan via the legendary city of Narbonne. Your journey to Gruissan beach will be punctuated by the intoxicating scents of the garrigue and the enchanting view of the vineyards lining the plains. Sea fishing, swimming and diving await you. Round off your trip at Sainte-Lucie, where the magnificent Narbonnaise Natural Park takes shape. Nature lovers will be happy to immortalize the fauna and flora of the Aude region.
France inland waterways Le Somail to West: 7 days
Le Somail is a hamlet that owes its fame to 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 horseshoe-shaped stone deck, as well as the "glacière", a vaulted circular building with two levels separated by a floor (the only one remaining on the Canal du Midi).
Practical information
- Starting point: Le Somail
- End point: Le Somail
- Total km: 122 km
- Total Hours: 24 hrs 12 mins
- Total Locks: 36 Locks
Summary of your itinerary
Le Somail >>> Paraza (9 km / 1 hr 07 min / 0 locks)
Paraza is a small village, but you can visit its very beautiful church in its small historic center: Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, as well as the Répudre canal deck.
Paraza >>> Roubia (2 km / 0 hr 15 min / 0 Locks)
You pass the Canal du Midi at Roubia via the Argens lock (which is the busiest on the canal). Because after the Canal is characterized by the absence of locks until Béziers. You can also see the Répudre aqueduct.
Roubia >>> Argens (4 km / 0 hr 45 min / 1 lock)
The Canal du Midi flows through the commune of Argens Minervois, which 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 >>> Homps (6 km / 1 hr 45 min / 4 locks)
Homps is a small, friendly village in the Languedoc, a former stop on the Roman road. It is known for its wine and is also home to the Maison du Vin Minervois. The Roman heritage is therefore present, but there is a significant legacy of the orders of the Hospitallers and then the Knights of Malta (the tower and chapel of the village). The Lac de Jouarnes and its water sports center provide an opportunity for relaxation and family fun.
Homps >>> La Redorte (6 km / 1 hr / 1 locks)
A commune in the Minervois 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 weir, which allows the hydraulic functioning of the canal, and the Dînée, a former stop for boatmen and travelers.
The return trip > Marseillette (12 km / 2 hrs 45 mins / 5 locks)
Marseillette is located in the urban area of Carcassonne between Trèbes and Puichéric. You can visit the Clock Tower which dominates the village.
Marseillette >>> Trèbes (9 km / 1 hr 22 min / 1 locks)
In addition to its historical heritage, Trèbes has all the infrastructure of a modern city. In terms of culture, 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 >>> Carcassonne (13 km / 3 hrs 07 mins / 6 Locks)
Carcassonne is famous for being a medieval city and, above all, the city of the Cathars, who long resisted the power of the kings of France, who considered them heretics. 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 Saint-Nazaire basilica and other holy places. The gastronomy is famous throughout France with its local products from the Languedoc region (duck, goose liver pâté, bourride de Bages, etc.).
Carcassonne >>> Le Somail (61 km / 12 hr 06 min / 18 locks)
Le Somail is a hamlet that owes its fame to the construction of the Canal du Midi. It was developed as a stopping place, in particular with the hamlet's inn and a port specifically for this purpose. There is an old horseshoe-shaped stone deck, as well as the "glacière", a vaulted circular building with two levels separated by a floor (the only one remaining on the Canal du Midi).
France river navigation Le Somail to Est: 7 days
Practical information
- Base of departure: Le Somail
- Arrival base: Le Somail
- Total km: 146 km
- Total Hours: 26 hrs 0 mins
- Total Locks: 29 Locks
Summary of your itinerary
Le Somail >>> Cuxac-d'Aude (2.5 km / 0 hr 18 min / 0 locks)
Cuxac-d'Aude is a French commune located in the department of Aude. The church of Saint-Martin, classified as a historic monument in 1983, is an interesting place to stop.
Cuxac-d'Aude >>> Capestang (19.5 km / 2 hrs 26 mins / 0 locks)
Capestang is an Occitan and rugby land, but it is also the jewel of the Languedoc wine-growing plain. The castle of the archbishops of Narbonne (their summer residence) and the collegiate church of Saint Etienne are other attractions of the town. The town's bell tower rises to a height of 43 meters and dominates the town. Its ambitious construction was scaled back after the terrible epidemic of the Black Death that ravaged France during the Middle Ages.
Capestang >>> Poilhes (6 km / 0 hr 45 min / 0 locks)
Poilhes is a small French village located below the Ensérune oppidum. Close to the Capestang lake, the landscaped banks at the heart of the village provide an opportunity to take a break in an authentic setting. You can see the " &
Poilhes >>> Malpas Tunnel (5 km / 0 hr 38 min / 0 Locks)
The Malpas tunnel was dug in 1679-1680 under the hill of Ensérune in the Hérault, to allow the Canal du Midi to pass through. It was the first tunnel to be dug to allow a canal to pass through. Length: 73m Width: 8.5m Height: 6m Beneath the Malpas tunnel are two other tunnels whose paths cross (at different levels), a gallery dating from the 13th century that was dug to allow for the drainage of themontady pond and a railway tunnel dug in the 19th century to allow passage of the Béziers-Narbonne railway line.
Malpas Tunnel >>> Colombiers (1 km / 0 hr 07 min / 0 Locks)
Colombiers (Colombièrs in Occitan) is a commune in the Hérault department at the foot of the ancient oppidum of Ensérune and in a meander of the Canal du Midi. This small town has many tourist and cultural attractions to offer: the cellar of the castle, the Col du Malpas (three tunnels, including the famous Tunnel des Moines), the dry pond of Montady-Colmbiers and the church of Saint Sylvestre.
Colombiers >>> Béziers (8 km / 3 hrs 00 mins / 8 locks)
Béziers is a French commune located in the department of Hérault (Languedoc-Roussillon). Béziers is famous for its wine, rugby union and the feria, a festival that takes place every August around the 15th and attracts around a million participants. The main tourist attractions in Béziers are the historic center and the 9 locks of Fonséranes, which have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Béziers >>> Villeneuve-Lès-Béziers (6 km / 1 hr 40 min / 3 Locks)
Villeneuve-Lès-Béziers has retained its authentic charm while being a dynamic town, very close to its big sister Béziers. The town is close to the Cévennes and the Haut Languedoc Regional Nature Park. The town hall organizes weekly activities for residents and visitors, ideal when you are short of ideas.
Villeneuve-Lès-Béziers >>> Portiragnes (8 km / 1 hr 15 min / 1 locks)
In Portiragnes you will appreciate its heritage, its beach, its folklore and its traditions, which make it a village where life is good. Don't miss the archaeological museum (remains dating from the Neolithic period).
Portiragnes >>> Vias (5 km / 0 hr 37 min / 0 Locks)
Vias is a French commune, located in the department of Hérault (Languedoc-Roussillon). Vias is located close-hauled to Béziers, and is practically linked to Vias-plage, which touches the seabed. Located about 10 minutes from Agde by car, Vias is a small wine-growing village with a strong historical heritage and six mountain bike trails with beacons.
Vias >>> Agde (4 km / 0 hr 30 min / 0 Locks)
Agde is a French commune located in the department of Hérault and in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The town of Agde, sometimes nicknamed "the black pearl of the Mediterranean" because of its monuments built in basalt stone, has a long history. Founded in the 6th century BC by Phocaeans from Marseille, it was the seat of an bishopric from the year 500 until the Revolution. Faced with the bishop, who had held the temporal power of the viscount of Agde since the 12th century, the city was very early, around the beginning of the 13th century, administeredby Consuls, a forerunner of the modern municipalities. A port city since Antiquity, favored towards the end of the 17th century by the opening of the Canal du Midi, Agde derived most of its income from maritime trade and fishing for a long time. The town suffered the decline of its port on the Hérault, five kilometers from the sea, outclassed by that of Sète from the arrival of steamships.
Agde >>> Les Onglous (8 km / 1 hr 44 min / 3 locks)
The Pointe des Onglous is a place in its own right, where the canal joins the lagoon. A lighthouse beacons the exit from the canal, and for good reason, as there are a number of shipwrecks whose sunken hulls have been taken over by mussels. For nature lovers, a hiking trail runs along the Pointe des Onglous.
Les onglous >>> Le Somail (73 km / 13 hours / 14 locks)
Le Somail is a hamlet that gained its fame in conjunction with the construction of the Canal du Midi. It was developed as a stopping place, in particular with the hamlet's inn and a port specifically for this use. There is an old horseshoe-shaped stone deck, as well as the "glacière", a vaulted circular building with two levels separated by a floor (the only one remaining on the Canal du Midi).
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 |