2002 Trip to France
http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffpics/france/france02.html
  • Description of canal side towns and the Midi Canal
  • Canal trips described by a lady from Neatherlands
  • French Houses for rent
  • Canal trip planning guide and advertisements
  • Historical info site built by some French kids
  • A southern France car trip, pretty good observations
  • A couple who live on a barge in Paris
  • Guide books for Midi and Burgundy
  • Air Fares
  • Paris Airports info and maps
  • Air France (only one carry-on per passenger), sum of dimensions < 45 inches, and < 26 lb.
  • Beziers Motel
  • US Airways Home Page, max carry-on size 10x16x24
  • Paris Hotel, close to CDG,   email
  • Paris Hotel, closer to CDG, no metro 1-800-424-6423
  • CDG Access Map
  • Carcassonne
  • More Carcassonne
  • The walls of Carcassonne
  • Cool slide show
  • Virtual Video of inside of LocoBoats
  • LocoBoats Models & Descriptions
  • LocoBoats Hiring Prices
  • Currency converter
  • FarmHouses for Rent
  • A Cool FarmHouse outside of Carcassonne
  • Toulouse Info
  • Link to Maps of Toulouse
  • Euro Maps, like mapblaster
  • Map showing distances, as the crow flies, 60 seconds at 28,800
  • Netscape Calendar, lonetreetack, hello9
  • French Train Info
  • Boat Roster
  • International Cell phone rental
  • Cell phone Rental, no delivery fee, $7 a day
  • Travel Wallet
  • Packing List
  • Restaurants List # 1
  • Restaurant Long List
  • Canal du Midi guide
  • French Links
  • The Weather in Toulouse
  • Rainfall in Toulouse
  • Link to catalog of maps of French wine regions

  • POSSIBLE BOATS



    Loco Boats
    One way trip starting at Negra to Argens, one week long?

    Pénichette 1400   cost 17265 fr/week = $2300 usd sleeps 8

    Pénichette 1500 R cost 16392 fr/week = $2,241 usd sleeps 8
    Contract for 1500

    Pénichette 1160 cost 14693 fr/week = $2,024 usd sleeps 6, dual steering

    Pénichette 1020 cost 12260 fr/week = $1,689 usd sleeps 4, dual steering

    Pénichette 1260 cost 13867 fr/week = $1,911 usd sleeps 6, lots of room 2 showers
    Contract 1260
     
     



    Crown Blue

    Castelnaudary to Port Cassafières, one week, either way. (region  9)

    Boats for region 9 (these are like we had last time) requires skill to exit and enter, although it says they have direct access to the second steering position. Period C is 12th May - 22nd June.

    Royal Classique sleeps 6, air cond, = fr 17990 = $2,506 usd

    Classique sleeps 8, 2 steering wheels, 2 refrigerators  = fr 17370 = $2,419 usd

    Grand Classique sleeps 10, Bow thrusters, 2 steering, 2 refrigerators = fr 21000 = $2,925 usd

    Mediterranean sleeps 8, easy access = fr 10670 = $1,458 usd

    Atlantic Sleeps 7, easy access = fr 10670 = $1,458

    Corsair    Sleeps 5, easy access = fr 8450 = $1,155



    Another Small Boat rental (only 6' wide, compared to 13' of all the new boats)
    They have some new 13' boats for 2002.

    Nazaire sleeps 6 = 644 sterling pounds = $930 usd



    Connoisseur, a barge company that has a base in Narbonne.

    Neat boat w/ 4 staterooms and showers $1900 usd in the summer, $1700 between Oct and May /week
     



     
    12 day 
    Itinerary
    Day 1 Friday Port Cassafières to Beziers Day 7 Thursday Begin the day with a trip to Lezignan market, full of vivid colors and characters. Following a leisurely cruise we sample the full-bodied Corbieres wine of 17th century Chateau La Voulte Gasparets. This evening we dine ashore at a charming canalside inn, in the heart of the village of Homps. (1/2 way) This is the closest point toMinerve
    Day 2  Saturday Shopping in Beziers Champagne Welcome aboard followed by an evening cruise across the impressive River Orb aqueduct and ascend the 100 foot flight of locks at Fontserranes. Dinner aboard. A evening visit to Beziers' 13th century fortified cathedral of Saint Nazaire, with a commanding view across to the Pyrenees Mountains. Day 8    Friday  Laundry day
    The phrase of the day is "Ou est-ce que le laverie est?"
    Day 3   Sunday Explore l'Oppidum D'Enserune, a pre-Roman hilltop settlement with Greek and Iberian excavations dating from 600 B.C. Cruising to Capestang in the afternoon, our route takes us through the world's oldest canal tunnel at Malpas to Domaine de Guery for a pre-dinner wine tasting. Dinner Capestang - Le Provence, or Poilhes - La Tour Sarrasine  restaurants.  Day 9 . Saturday This afternoon's excursion to Minerve, the ancient capital of Minervois, hosts a 12th century Cathar fort that is surrounded by deep limestone gorges. Beseiged by Simon de Montfort in 1215, its hilltop location affords spectacular views. A fascinating recreation in miniature of the blood-thirsty Cathar rebellion and small museum complete the intriguing picture. Enjoy a eveing cruise to Puicheric. Twilight cruise to Marseillette and dinner aboard. Afternoon cruise to Trebes, through vineyards and pine trees. 
    day 4 Monday Today's excursion is to Narbonne, a Roman Mediterranean capital where the Visigoth Monarchs once lived. Enjoy a visit to the Archbishop's Palace and Horreum. Explore the indoor market, at the hub of this bustling Midi town, where you will have time to shop or simply absorb the relaxed atmosphere. Restaurant of your choice day 10  Sunday Fascinating morning tour of Carcassonne. Dating back to the Gallo-Roman era, this is the most complete medieval, fortified city in existance today. With its 52 watch towers, portcullis and extraordinary repertoire of defenses which resisted the many armies that tried to storm this Camelot setting
    Day 5   Tuesday Narbonne 2nd day Restaurant of your choice Day 11   MondayCastelnaudary
    Day 6   Wednesday Morning cruise to Le Somail, where we moor near the old stone bridge, a perfect setting to enjoy dinner Restaurant La Cascade . day 12 Tuesday Castelnaudary

    RESTAURANTS


    region village * = next to canal url phn km form canal
    Herault Capestang *? Le Provence 04/02 04 67 93 36 54 Le Provence restaurant 
    Place Jean Jaurès
    34310 Capestang
    Aude Narbonne Le Petit Comptoir (March 2002) 04 68 42 30 35 Le Petit Comptoir Bar Restaurant
     4 bd Maréchal Joffre
    11100 Narbonne
    Aude Ste Valiere Auberge des 13 Vents 02/02 04 68 46 02 34 Auberge des 13 Vents
    Ste Valiere
    Gard Saint Gilles du Gard Le Cours, (January 2002) 04 66 87 31 93 Hotel Restaurant Le Cours
    sabelle and Gerard Peyrol
    Avenue François-Griffeuille
    30800 Saint-Gilles-du Gard 
    Herault Narbonne Le Chat Botté, (November 2001) 04 68 65 34 50 Restaurant Le Chat Botté
    Residence l'Angel
    72, rue Droite
    11100 Narbonne
    Herault Pezenas Le Yacca, (October 2001) 04 67 98 21 48 Le Yacca
    26 Place du 14 Juillet
    34120 Pezenas
    Herault Quarante North of canal La Table de Roueire, (September 2001) 04 67 89 30 19 La Table de Roueire
    Domaine de Roueire
    34310 Quarante
    Herault  Ouveillan - Quarante * Le Relais de Pigasse 07/00 04 67 89 40 98 Between Ouveillan and Quarante on the Canal du Midi
    Herault Maraussan Le Vieux Puits(June 2001) 4 67 90 05 59 Le Vieux Puits
    207 ave Cazouls
    34370 Maraussan
    Herault Saint Chinian La Calèche, (May 2001) 4 67 38 25 26 La Calèche
    8 grand rue
    34360 Saint Chinian
    Gard Aigues Mortes Maguelone, (April 2001) 4 66 53 74 60 Maguelone
    38, rue Republique
    Aigues Mortes
    Gard
    Herault Poilhes * La Tour Sarrasine(February 2001) 4 67 93 41 31 La Tour Sarrasine
    Restaurant Gastronomique 
    34310 Poilhes La Romaine
    Herault 
    Aude Greffeil Auberge le Puits Fleuri(January 2001) 4 68 69 40 40 Auberge Le Puits Fleuri
    2 plte Auberge
    Greffeil 11250
    Aude
    Herault Marseillan Chez Philippe, (December 2000) 4 67 01 70 62 Restaurant Chez Philippe 
    0, rue de Suffren
    34340 Marseillan
    Herault
    Herault between Quarante & Cruzy Le Terminus (November 2000) 4 67 89 35 62 Restaurant Le Terminus
    Domaine de la Massecaps
    Between Cruzy and Quarante
    Herault 
    Aude Lagrasse Auberge Le Saint Hubert, (October 2000) 4 68 43 15 22 Auberge Le Saint Hubert
    Hotel - Restaurant
    9 Bd de la Promenade
    11220 Lagrasse
    Aude
    Herault Maraussan
    near
    Beziers
    Parfums de Garrigues, (September 2000) 4 67 90 33 76 Parfums de Garrigues
    sabelle et Jean-Luc Santure
    7, rue de la Poste
    34370 Maraussan
    Herault
    Herault Olonzac Restaurant du Minervois "Bel", 08/00 4 68 91 20 73 Restaurant du Minervois "BEL"
    M et Mme Vilchez
    2 rue des Ecoles
    34210 Olonzac
    Herault
    Aude Vinassan Chez Pierrot, (July 2000) 4 68 45 35 10 Chez Pierrot
    44 rue du four chaux
    11110 Vinassan
    Aude
    Herault Magalas La Boucherie(June 2000) 4 67 36 20 82 La Boucherie
    Place de l'Eglise
    34480 Magalas
    Herault
    Herault Minerve La Terrasse, (May 2000) 4 68 91 80 94 La Terrasse
    Auberge rurale et gourmande
    34210 Minerve
    Herault
    Herault Meze Le Nouveau Pescadou and Le Coquillou, 04/00 4 67 18 87 50
    ===
    4 67 43 81 72
    Le Coquillou
    14bis quai A Descournut
    34140 Mèze
    Herault
    =======
    Le Nouveau Pescadou
    33 Bd du Port
    34140 Mèze
    Herault
    Canal du Midi la Croisade * L'Auberge de la Croisade (February 2000) 4 67 89 36 36 L'Auberge de la Croisade
    Port Seriege
    Hameau de la Croisade
    34310 Cruzy
    Herault

    Narbonne La Petite Cour, (January 2000) 4 68 90 48 03 La Petite Cour
    22, bd gambetta
    Narbonne
    Aude 

    Carcassonne Le Salvaza, (November 1999) 4 68 47 88 19 Restaurant Le Salvaza
    Aeroport de Carcassonne
    Aude 

    Lezignan Le Tournedos, (October 1999) 4 68 27 11 51 Restaurant Le Tournedos / Hôtel Le Tassigny
    Rond–Point de Lattre de Tassigny
    11200 Lézignan-Corbières

    Beziers Au Cep D'Or, (September 1999) 04 67 49 28 09 Restaurant Au Cep D'Or
    7, Rue Viennet
    34500 Beziers
    Herault
    Near Homps Beaufort Auberge de St Martin, (July 1999) 04 68 91 16 18  Auberge de St Martin
    34210 Beaufort
    Herault
    near Lagrasse SE of Narbonne Restaurant La Fargo (June 1999) 04 68 43 12 78  Restaurant La Fargo
    11220 St Pierre des Champs 
    Aude
    near Minerve
    Restaurant Lo Cagarol (June 1999) 04 68 27 84 22 Restaurant Lo Cagarol
    Place de la Fontaine
    34210 Aigne
    Herault
    near Minerve Narbonne Ferme-Auberge Le Bouis (May 1999) 04 67 97 05 92 Le Bouis Ferme-Auberge
    Le Bouis
    Near Minerve
    Herault
    near Minerve Narbonne Bize Minervois Auberge des Templiers, (April 1999) 04 68 46 39 72 Auberge des Templiers
    Place aux Herbes
    Porte st. Michel
    Bize Minervois
    near Narbonne and Beziers Cruzy Auberge La Passiflore, (December 1998) 04 67 89 34 98 Auberge La Passiflore
    Route De Narbonne
    34310 Cruzy
    South of Narbonne Bages Le Portanel Restaurant, (November 1998) 04 68 42 81 66  Le Portanel Restaurant
    La Placette "Passage du Portanel"
    11100 Bages
    on the Canal du Midi Paraza * Café du Port, (September 1998) 04 68 43 23 10 Café du Port
    Borne 436
    Canal du Midi
    11200 Paraza
    Bize Minervois Cabezac Auberge La Selette, (August 1998) 04 68 46 28 64 Auberge La Selette
    Cabezac (on the D5, near the turning to Bize Minervois)
    Azillanet Ferme Auberge La Maison de Vigneron, (July 1998) 06 85 46 53 64 Ferme Auberge
    La Maison de Vigneron
    Azillanet (on the outskirts of the village)
    NE of Minerve St Jean de Minervois Auberge De L'Ecole, (June 1998) 04 67 38 16 16 Auberge De L'Ecole
    St Jean de Minervois
    04 67 38 16 16
    South of Narbonne Prat de Cest L'Amitié, Cybercafé, (0ctober 1997) 04 68 41 26 35  L'Amitié, Cybercafé
    RN 9
    11100 Prat de Cest
    South of Homps Escales Les Dinedourelles, (September, 1997) 04 68 27 68 33  Restaurant Les Dinedourelles
    Impasse des Pins
    11200 Escales

    Le Somail and Argeliers * Restaurant La Cascade (July, 1997) +33 (0) 468 463 007  Restaurant La Cascade
    Pont Canal de la Cesse
    Canal Du Midi
    Aude

    Fontjoncouse L'Auberge de Vieux Puits, (April, 1997) 04 68 44 07 37  L'Auberge de Vieux Puits
    11360 Fontjoncouse

    Albas Domaine des Pensées Sauvages (Wine - March, 1997) 04 68 45 81 30 Domaine des Pensées Sauvages
    11360 Albas

    Cruzy Restaurant Le Terminus (February, 1997) 04 67 89 35 62  Restaurant Le Terminus
    34310 Cruzy
    Montpellier St.Anne Restaurant Le Puits (January,1997) 04 67 60 82 77 Restaurant Le Puits St.Anne
    9 Rue de l'Amandier
    34 Montpellier
    west of  Capestang
    between la Croisade and Capestang*
    le Pourquoi Pas 04 67 93 37 94 pont de malvies










    La Chaumiere, Marseillan Plage, Herault. (Rec. by website visitor February 2002)
    Dominican Hotel and Restaurant, Montreal, Aude. (Recommended by website visitor - January 2002)
    1999 - Recommended Restaurants from the Guide and Website Visitors (August 1999)
     
     

    PLACES TO SEE

    Description Near what village
    L'Oppidum d'Enserune, a settlement many centuries before Christ, and later a way
    station along the Roman "Via Domitia". Considered one of the most important
    archaeological sites in Europe, the area has been extensively excavated and a
    museum erected to display artifacts found there. The visitor can look down on what
    were once dwelling sites and imagine what day to day life was like 2500 years ago.
    As the Oppidum is high on a hill, the view of the surrounding countryside is
    breathtaking. 
    On the Canal, before Capetang
    Narbonne Link
    you could take one of the quaint little trains which trundle along the single-track railway to Bize, in the Minervois to the north.  Goes from Narbonne to just west of Argeliers
    Sample itinerary from Beziers to Trebes
    Sample 2 itinerary
    Sample 3 itinerary
    Museums in the Herault Region (in French)


    Boat Roster Boat State Room Going Y or N
    1 Bob med 1 YES
    2 Gail med 1 YES
    3 Bud med 2 YES
    4 Irene med 2 YES
    5 Jeff med 3 YES
    6 Wade med 3 YES
    7 Brett cor 1 YES
    8 Tara cor 2 YES
    9 Kye cor 2 YES
    10 Kit cor 1 YES
    11 Barb cor 1 YES

     

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