From the Garonne to the Mediterranean: on a houseboat on the Canal du Midi

First day

Recommended itinerary: From Bram to Villesèquelande
Boarding in Bram. This will be our base for a week exploring the Canal du Midi by houseboat. The first stretch is short and allows us to familiarize ourselves with the helm and moorings. The houseboat can be driven without a boating license and navigation glides easily between fields and rows of poplar trees. Once we arrive in Villesèquelande, we disembark to visit the 400-year-old plane tree that has made this village famous. In 2021, it was declared the world's first tree village! We moor along the canal and spend the evening in the rural tranquility of this place.

Second day

Recommended itinerary: From Villesèquelande to Trèbes
We leave the moorings and follow the Canal du Midi towards Carcassonne: the medieval city appears among the rows of vines, inviting us to climb up to the ramparts and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire. We return on board: the slow navigation flows between orderly locks to Trèbes, a small port with restaurants on the canal and outdoor tables. It is the longest stage, but it is linear and well marked, allowing us to relax during the navigation and enjoy the view ofOccitania.

Third day

Recommended itinerary: From Trèbes to Puichéric
We resume our journey through vineyards and Mediterranean scents. In Marseillette , we moor for a visit to the village and a view of the Minervois fields. We continue towards Puichéric, dominated by its castle: silence reigns along the canal, broken only by the water entering and leaving the locks. It is an ideal day for those seeking anauthentic experience in France, with gentle weather and plenty of opportunities to stop at wineries and shops.

Fourth day

Recommended route: circular route Puichéric – Homps – Puichéric
Today we can take a trip eastwards, then return to Puichéric for the night. We sail lightly with our bow pointing east to Homps, an ancient river port for wine. The quays are full of life: immerse yourself in the local atmosphere with a tasting of local products and lunch in the bistros with tables by the water. The round trip is an invitation to visit the Canal du Midi, the spectacular locks and the slow pace of this week's vacation. We return to Puichéric at sunset, when the rows of vines are lit up in gold and the canal returns to calm.

Fifth day

Recommended itinerary: From Puichéric to Trèbes
We return westward along the same route, but the landscape changes with the light and with the stops we decide to make. Stone bridges, reflections on the water, and spectacular locks that tell the story of the engineering behind this UNESCO World Heritage canal. We refine our mooring and maneuvering skills, perhaps with a stop at a floating restaurant. The experience ofhouseboat on the Canal du Midi remains sweet and intuitive: you enjoy your time, with ease and without haste, until you moor for the evening in Trèbes.

Sixth day

Recommended itinerary: From Trèbes to Carcassonne
Short route back to Carcassonne. We moor at Port du Canal and walk up to the Cité to visit artisan shops, ramparts, and postcard views. It's the perfect day to alternate between slow sailing and urban visits, with the houseboat ready to welcome us in the evening or for lunch with a view. The illuminated walls close an essential day in the story of the Canal du Midi.

Seventh day

Recommended itinerary: From Carcassonne to Bram
The last stretch of the route takes us through rows of vines and along long towpaths, perfect for walking or a quick bike ride. We pass through Villesèquelande again and head for Bram, where it all began. France bids us farewell with a series of orderly locks and easy navigation that we now feel comfortable with: the houseboat glides safely through a landscape that changes with the seasons and makes us want to return.

Eighth day

Our week on a houseboat along the Canal du Midi has come to an end. We sailed for a week along southern France and the Canal du Midi, visiting the villages along the canal and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of these towns. Houseboat delivery by 10 a.m. We return home already thinking about our next houseboat vacation.