Claire de Lune

Carcassonne to Beziers

A cruise on ‘Clair’ unfolds around you with a million soothing landscapes, sumptuous food, delicious wines and pleasant daily adventures while you gently float along this magnificent tree-lined canal.  Your day usually consists of a daily excursion, often in the morning, followed by lunch onboard then barging during the afternoon.  

  ‘Clair de Lune’ has its favorite excursions that work well with the barging schedule and that provide the guest with a well-rounded variety of sight-seeing and activities.  These excursions highlight the hidden “jewels” of historical or natural interest along with colorful open-air markets, wine-tasting, shopping, or cultural fairs and festivals.

  Since every group has different interests ‘Clair de Lune’ specializes in tailoring excursions to meet the requests of any particular guest or group.  Our crew can draw upon their lengthy local experience and precious contacts to fulfill your special requests.

Saturday – Beziers 
Arrival at the Clair de Lune around 4:30 pm .  Shortly after arrival a Captain’s Welcome Reception of drinks and nibbles will be served along with introducing the crew and outlining your cruise.  Welcome Reception followed by short cruise to first evenings mooring in Villeneuve-les-Beziers..  

Sunday -  
Your day could begin with an optional stroll through the Sunday morning Flea market in the heart of the village of Villeneuve .  During the morning the barge cruises up the canal to meet the prearranged rendezvous to ascend the seven-locks of Foncerannes in Beziers .  Shortly afterwards lunch will be served.

The afternoons cruise involves picturesque views of the tree-lined canal as well as the canal’s only tunnel at Malpas.  You can enjoy the Jacuzzi and sundeck or perhaps cycle or walk at your leisure.  If there is enough time after mooring then perhaps a private wine-tasting at a chateau or a visit to the Oppidum d’Enserune, a two-thousand year old hilltop archeological city-site located near the evenings mooring at the farm of Regismont le Haut.  

Monday - Cruise to Argeliers
Today will begin with either a visit to the Oppidum or wine-tasting - if no time was available the previous day - followed by cruising to the village of Capestang where you can enjoy lunch on deck with a lovely view of the 13th century church.  The afternoon involves lots of cruising along the meandering canal until the evenings mooring near the village of Argeliers .  Perhaps an active guest may desire an invigorating cycle along little vineyard tracks up to the village of Quarante to view its thousand year old Romanesque church, a true gem of the Languedoc region.    

Possible on shore dinner at either the Relais du Pigasse, La Bastide de Cabezac or La Croisade.

Tuesday - Cruise to Hompf.      
After breakfast we are off to the open-air street market in Olonzac which offers a wide variety of foods, fresh produce and numerous merchants selling Provencal fabrics, books, music, hardware, clothing and other dry-goods.  Depending upon the time you may want to visit the Oulibo Olive cooperative for a quick tasting and shop in their regional products boutique or drive up to the picturesque village of Minerve perched upon its cliff top.  It was here that during the Cathar crusade at the beginning of the 13th century Catholic Knights from the north burned-alive 150 Cathar “heretic” priests (known as “Perfects”) because of their differing faith.

  Return to the Clair de Lune for lunch followed by cruising to near the village of Homps with stop-over in the picturesque hamlet of Le Somail to visit its famous used and rare bookshop and other artisan boutiques.

  Possible on-shore dinner at either the L’Arbousier in Homps.

 Wednesday - Cruise to Puicheric
Highlights of a morning visit to Narbonne, founded in 118 B.C. by the Romans as their Capital in Gaul, include the towering 13th century Gothic Cathedral and the 100-year-old covered market with its wonderful selection of fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese and many other delicious delicacies.  There are also the chariot-rutted paving stones of the Roman road Via Domitia in the central square where one can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino or visit the impressive Archaeological museum, the Fine Arts museum or shop and browse the boutiques along the quaint pedestrian streets.   

Return to the barge for lunch followed by cruising up through the locks to near the village of Puicheric where we will moor for the night.

Thursday - Cruise to Trebes
A morning visit to the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne .  1700 years of history await you with its impressive double walls and 52 towers, the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral with its gorgeous 13th century rose windows and the winding cobbled streets lined with boutiques.

  Lunch will be back onboard Clair de Lune following which you’ll continue cruising up through the locks and through the ‘green cathedral’ of overhanging trees to our mooring near the village of Trebes .

Friday – Trebes
After breakfast, disembark Clair de Lune to be transferred to departure point for the next leg of your travels

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