Alouette: CARCASSONNE TO BÉZIERS

Board Alouette, your exquisite floating palace for the week ahead. Enjoy a warm welcome and chilled champagne in the company of your dedicated crew and guide as you take in the 360-degree views on deck. Your chef is busy preparing your first feast of the cruise, a spread of vibrant dishes crafted from intensely flavourful ingredients, tailored to your tastes. As delicious wines are uncorked, raise a toast to the start of a sublime vacation.

Awake to a beautiful day on the water and a breakfast of local delicacies. Alight with your guide for a tour of the colossal walled city of Carcassonne. Explore the intricate fortifications of the two castellated walls, admire the views from the battlements towards the Pyrenees and visit the cathedral, remarkable for its stained-glass rose windows, elegant Romanesque nave and Gothic transepts. Return to the barge for lunch and relax as you cruise along the Canal du Midi, one of the most stunning waterways in France. Lined with willows, irises and plane trees that tower over the water, its banks abound in wildlife. Arrive at this evening’s countryside mooring just in time for cocktails, before taking a short drive to a charming local restaurant for dinner.

After breakfast, your guide escorts you to the village of Lagrasse, considered one of the prettiest villages in France. Nestled in the foothills of the Corbières mountains with the Orbieu River snaking through it, Lagrasse has managed to preserve the treasures of its past. A magnificent Benedictine abbey, founded in the 8th century, lies beyond a 12th -century arched bridge. Inside the city walls, a maze of quaint alleyways leads past artists’ galleries and gems of medieval architecture. Return to the barge for lunch and a leisurely cruise enjoying ever-changing vistas of the canal. Arrive in Le Somail, where we will spend the next two nights. In this achingly pretty canal-side port, ivy-covered walls, humpback bridges and umbrella pines create a feast for the eyes. Tonight, enjoy a sumptuous dinner on board.

This morning, visit the wonderful covered market in Narbonne, which last year was voted the most beautiful in France. Choose ingredients for your dinner and let the colours and fragrances transport you to true foodie heaven. Narbonne is a lively Mediterranean city and an important wine-producing centre. The historic architecture, shady boulevards and location on the banks of the Canal de la Robine all contribute to its charm. Enjoy a traditional lunch at a bistro near the market. En route back to the Alouette in Le Somail, stop at a local olive mill, where you can uncover the secrets of the nutritious oil with a private demonstration and tasting. Alternatively, visit a local winery and sample its delectable wines. Back on the barge, aperitifs whet your appetite for a relaxing dinner and lively conversation into the night.

After breakfast, visit Minerve, a beautiful medieval village perched on a limestone cliff, overlooking the gorges below. Its now-ruined castle was once a Cathar stronghold, besieged and captured by the infamous Earl of Leicester, Simon de Montfort. Return to the barge for a delicious lunch and an afternoon cruise to the port of Capestang. Relax and soak up the ever-changing views from the comfort of the deck, or perhaps walk or cycle along the towpath. This evening, dinner is served on board.  

Unwind on board and absorb the picturesque scenery as the barge navigates the final stretch to our mooring in Béziers. After lunch, disembark with your guide to visit Fontfroide Abbey. This 11th -century Cistercian monastery, now privately owned, delights with its tranquil chapter hall, refectory, cloister and well-kept rose garden. As you rejoin the Alouette, stop to marvel at the engineering wonder that is the Fonserannes Locks. This iconic set of staircase locks comprises eight chambers and nine gates. Tonight, sit out on the balmy deck as Chef serves a farewell gala dinner. Share stories and highlights while indulging in exquisite seasonal delicacies.

Please check out this morning by 09:00. 

After breakfast, your crew bids you farewell as you disembark for your onward travel arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you back on board soon. 

Please note, in exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to alter the route without prior notice.