The Canal du Midi, linking the Mediterrannean with the Atlantic, was completed in 1681 after 14 years of hard work.It has a total length of 240km from the River Garonne at Toulouse until it runs into the Mediterranean at Agde.Originally it ran just outside Carcassonne and it was not until 1810 that a new course close to the city was built. The picture on the right is the pont Marengo and is taken as you walk from the holiday cottage towards the centre of Carcassonne. The pont is usually hung with beautiful flowers.

The water for the Canal comes from the Montaigne Noire.

This picture shows the walk alongside the canal du midi, from the holiday cottage, towards the pont Marengo. The shaded street is typical of Carcassonne.

There are pleasure cruises which sail from the pont Marengo, April to October , Tel 04.68.71.61.26.

There are also guided trips on a bus , they take half a day and can be booked on 04.68.10.24.30 between June and September.

Alternatively hire a bycicle and take a picnic along the canal path.

Contact details for the local Canal du Midi are

Port de plaisance sur Canal du Midi - Tel 04 68 25 10 48

Tourism offices are at

15, Boulevard Camille Pelletan, 11890

Carcassonne, cedex 9.

Tel 04.68.10.24.30

or 04 68 10 24 33

or fax 04 68 10 24 38

Open 9 am to 7 pm

There are also tourism offices at

Cite Medieval, Tour Narbonnaise, Tel 04.68.10.24.36

or the Bureau annexe Port du Canal du Midi

Tel : 04.68.25.94, open 9 am to 6 pm April to October , but in July and August closes later at 7 pm.

Looking through Midi Libre from 30th July 2004 the following telephone numbers were quoted

Trebes 04 68 78 73 75

Carcassonne, avenue Foche 04 67 94 78 93 or www.nautic.fr

Electric boats at Trebes , Tel La Forcola 06 12 38 07 64

Finally back to Carcassonne for Lou Gabaret on 04 68 71 61 26

These are some of the best sites for learning about the Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi, good site from Dec 96.In fact so good that the Unesco site links to it!

Canal du midi,tourist guide site

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Holidaying abroad web sites:-

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Self catering accommodation - Carcassonne