Allouette

Toulouse to Carcassonne

The day to day itinerary described below is a sample of a typical cruise on the Alouette. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change, there may be fewer or more excursions, the places visited may vary depending on the season and the passenger preferences. Because there are a limited number of passengers on any of our vessels the guide can tailor the itinerary in accordance with the passengers’ wishes.  

Sunday - Paris to Toulouse .
Your departure from Paris from the Gare de Montparnasse via the TGV train will arrive at approximately 16:35 at the Toulouse train station where you will be met by the Alouette guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by mini-van to port where you will board the barge for your cruise through the Canal du Midi.

  A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard.

  Dinner will be served at 20:00 . (The time for meals on board can be altered to suit the passenger’s wishes).

Monday – Cruise to Mongiscard.  Visit Toulouse .
After breakfast, enjoy a walk around Toulouse , known as the ‘ville rose’ because of its pink-brick buildings. Toulouse is full of architectural grandeur – its most famous landmark the Basilique de St-Sernin.  The largest Romanesque church built in the 11^th and 12^th centuries, the Basilica was built to accommodate the large numbers of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Time permitting, we’ll visit Les Jacobins, founded in the 13th and 14^th centuries, and a magnificent example of Gothic monastic architecture.  Back on board for a scrumptious lunch and an afternoon’s cruise.  Passengers may elect to  bicycle or walk along the towpath and meet the barge further down the canal enroute to tonight’s mooring in Mongiscard.

Tuesday – Cruise to Avignonet-Lauragais.  Visit Lac St. Ferreol.
After breakfast, enjoy the grandeur and beauty of the Canal du Midi, with its impressively fine locks, buildings and aqueducts, scarcely changed from their completion over 300 years ago.  We will disembark the barge for a wonderful picnic lunch by Lac St. Ferreol in the Black Mountains .  We will visit the market town of Revel, followed by a quick stop in Saissac, a small town famous for its many quaint book shops.  Back to the barge for a leisurely cruise to tonight’s mooring in Avignonet-Lauragais. 

Wednesday – Cruise to Castelnaudary.  Visit the Black Mountains
Enjoy the morning cruise towards Castelnaudary (the town renowned for its cassoulet), where you will pass the 7 hectare Grand Bassin, a sheet of water whose size is at first concealed by a wooded island.  Soon the dimensions of the great bassin are revealed, totally artificial and acting as a reservoir for the staircase of 4 locks that follow.  There are several options available for the afternoon depending on the groups interest – cooking demonstration and tasting of the local specialty, cassoulet or for those more active, a pony treck across the Black Mountains .

Thursday – Cruise to Bram.  Visit Minerve.
You’ll cruise to Bram this morning.  There will be plenty of time for cycling and walking along this beautiful section of the canal.  After lunch, you’ll visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone cliff which dominates the vineyards below.  It’s now ruined castle was once a Cathar stronghold, besieged and captured by Simon de Montfort.  You will then enjoy an exclusive wine tasting in the Minervois. 

Friday – Cruise to Carcassonne .  Visit Carcassonne .
Today, you’ll tour Europe ’s largest medieval fortress – La Cité de Carcassonne. Admire the intricate fortifications of the two castellated walls, one inside the other, about a mile in circumference.  The views from the battlements towards the Pyrenées are stunning.  Visit the Cathedral, over-restored in places, but remarkable for its stained glass rose windows, fine statues, elegant Romanesque nave and Gothic transepts.  Back on board the chef is preparing a memorable feast for your farewell dinner.  Bon appetit.

Saturday – Disembark the Alouette.  Transfer to Paris
After breakfast you will disembark the Alouette, board the van for the last time for the drive to Toulouse train station and return to Paris on the TGV, arriving at the Gare de Montparnasse at approximately 14:20 where you will be met by our Afloat in France representative who will assist you with your baggage.

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