Caroline

Itinerary

Sunday

Guests are picked up at approximately 4 p.m. by Uli, your Captain, at the pre-arranged meeting point and transferred by private air-conditioned Mercedes Van to the Caroline mooring. Champagne welcome reception aboard by Ute, your Chef, and time to settle in while Caroline is starting her first little cruise to your evening mooring. Relax on deck and watch the picturesque French landscape glide past. On this first evening you will enjoy the first four course welcome gourmet dinner aboard.
Monday

Awaken to enjoy an extensive continental breakfast with freshly brewed coffee, tea, fruit juices, croissants and baguettes, jams, ham, cereals. Before we start the daily cruise you might decide to have a morning visit to the pre-Roman site of Oppidum d’Enserunes, which is a historical site from around 800 BC and has been part of the Roman Via Domitia. This area also overlooks the famous Etang de Montady. We set off cruising, meandering through truly unbelievable and stunning scenery. Ute will serve the lunch on deck `al fresco´. This afternoon while relaxing on deck with a chilled drink enjoy yourself and watch the countryside pass by as we cruise to our mooring destination for the evening.

Each day the Canal du Midi offers walking and biking along the flat and well maintained towpath. Perhaps a stroll into a little village? Caroline can stop nearly everywhere along the Canal. And you might find that you are walking faster than Caroline can follow you.

Tuesday

After another rich breakfast, we will drive by car into the pretty village of Olonzac. Here we explore the local farmers market with their colourful display of fresh fruit and vegetables. Here, your Captain will introduce you – among other – to local cheeses and seafood. Maybe you like to have a “café crème” in one of the typical bars, watching the crowd passing by? Than we will return to the Caroline, where Ute is preparing your lunch, in which you will find lots of the local products, your Captain has bought with you on the market.

The afternoon cruise with the barge will guide you through the pleasant landscape of Languedoc-Roussillon, which is known as the biggest wine producing area worldwide. Probably we will moor at night in Le Somail, a very charming little Hameau. Here you have the chance sampling the local food in one of the restaurants nearby. When, after having had your dinner ashore, you´re coming home, enjoy the evening sitting on deck with a glass of wine or digestive, talking, laughing…

Wednesday

Today’s morning visit is the little scenic hilltop village of Minerve, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”. Still there are about 100 people living. Minerve´s history is old and connected to the Cathar Crusades which took place in the early 12th century. Visiting the little Museum of Hurepel, telling everything about the cruelties which have happened in this area 800 years ago, you´ll find out about their hard lifes.

The cruise this afternoon will take us to the first look this week. But before getting there, we will make a stop-over in Ventenac. Here Caroline will moor in front of the local Chateau which sits directly on the banks of the canal. Chateau Ventenac invites you in for a wine tasting of their famous “AOC Minervois”. The vines of the “Appellation Minervois” have been introduced by the romans.

When we have reached the mooring later on, maybe you like to take a walk or a bike ride along the towpath before Ute gives you a call for starting the dinner tonight.

Thursday

This morning we´re taking off with the Van to see ancient Narbonne. We visit the Palace of the Archbishop, the Roman underground cave storages and the Cathedral St Just, with its impressive organ. From this vantage the ancient Via Domitia can be seen. Narbonne was founded 118 BC by the Romans along the Via Domitia. This is the more than 2000 years old trade route connecting ancient Rome with Spain.

While enjoying the town you can chase for souvenirs before your Captain Uli invites you for Lunch at a typical bar in the covered food market in the centre of Narbonne. Today’s cruise will take us through the first locks. The first one has a single chamber while the next lock has a double chamber. A total of 4 locks with 6 chambers will bring us to our evening stop at Homps, a small vineyard village. We moor along a quay in the middle of this village where guests have a wide choice of restaurants for your dinner and a stroll tonight.

Friday

Today’s excursion will be another highlight of your week! La Cité! Tour of the famous walled city of Carcassonne, a fascinating fortified medieval fortress, situated on top of Carcassonne overlooking the city. Caroline takes off after breakfast, leaving Homps, cruising again through locks, transporting us ‘uphill’ to the next level of the Canal. Our evening mooring tonight is away from the villages and somewhere in the countryside.

The dinner tonight will be – sad enough – the Farewell dinner. Again Ute will serve a spectacular 4 course gourmet meal. Once more you can enjoy her cuisine, corresponding wines followed by cheeses and desert with matching wines, coffee and liquors.

Saturday

After Saturday morning´s breakfast, we will say goodbye and Uli will drive you to your next hotel, train station, or Airport.

* Note: this is a sample itinerary; stops and excursions may be altered to suit guests individual ideas. On alternate weeks this cruise will run in the opposite direction.