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Let yourself be inspired
Let yourself be inspired
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Our canal boats
Our canal boats
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River Trips the blog
Suggested cruising options Somail*
In the heart of the Minervois vineyards : on a self-drive canal boating holiday
** All prices are calculated on the basis of a two day weekend in low season.
Description of
the boating holiday
Fine wines, excellent local cuisine, swimming and fishing
Enjoying a boating holiday on one of the most famous waterways in Europe – the Canal du Midi. Cruising from Le Somail to Marseillette you and your canal boat crew will discover the architectural and heritage treasures of the canal which include locks, canal bridges, outhouses...all appreciated while you and your canal barge wind your way through the Minervois vineyards.
By hiring a canal boat from the Nicols base at Le Somail you are in the ideal place to discover one of the most famous waterways in Europe – the Canal du Midi. The charming little port of Le Somail can be found halfway between Carcassonne and Béziers on the longest continuous section of canal in France, at 52km without seeing a lock!
Le Somail: iconic stone bridge, cooling house dating back to 1684, impressive book store with 50,000 works for sale!
Ventenac-en-Minervois: set on a hill top with stunning views, cellar visits to the wine grower Château de Ventenac-en-Minervois
Paraza: 17th century castle, Répudre Canal Bridge - the oldest in France (1km away)
Roubia: beautiful village built around a castle, Moulin de la Restanque for gourmet olive oils
Argens-Minervois: beautiful village built around a 14th century castle, wine tours at the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin in Lézignan-Corbières (5km away)
Homps: short walk to Lake Jouarres for swimming, windsurfing, canoeing and fishing
La Redorte: remarkable stone arches built in 1693 to prevent flooding
Puichéric: impressive unique lock by Joël Barthès, pretty castle of Puichéri, Romanesque church, Minervois vineyards
Marseillette: rice growing Marseillette pond, Chappe tower
Your boating holiday in the heart of the Minervois vineyards is coming to an end. It is time to begin the return leg back to the Nicols base at Le Somail.
They tried it and love it
Our other boating holidaysfor you
A magical and memorable cruise
We enjoyed travelling through all of the different landscapes that surround the canal. The calm of being out on the water on our canal boat was far from the usual hustle and bustle of our daily life! Our boating holiday itinerary saw us meet many villages along the way, all the time we were shaded by the plane trees that line the banks of the Canal du Midi.
Armelle, Montargis