The river Garonne through great vineyards     Lands of plenty and fortified villages     The river Lot, from cliffs to fortified castles     All Gascony along the river Baïse     Roman art wonders and terroir delicacies     Along Riquet's canal, discovery of Unesco Heritage sites     The fabulous Canal Royal, among art and history     Mediterranean cruise to Camargue   Cycling tracks : the ancient tow paths meandering along the Canal du Midi and the Canal de Garonne make walkers enjoy nature. Nearly 70 kms of cycling and walking tracks have been developed in the surroundings of Toulouse between the Seuil de Naurouze and the lock of Embalens.That is the best way to enjoy the light on the Canal and to discover the treasures Nature keeps hidden to those who will not take time to look for them. [more]

Along Riquet's canal, discovery of Unesco Heritage sites It had already occurred to the Romans to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, an unfulfilled dream, of course! However, in 1662, Pierre-Paul Riquet, fascinated by the Montagne Noire that he used to pace up and down, managed to convince Louis XIV and Colbert. Then the Canal Royal started the first hours of its history. It took 12 000 workers and more than 14 years to achieve this 240 km canal, fed by a unique hydraulic system and punctuated by 350 works of art. The "rigole of Riquet" was opened in 1681 and in 1996 classified as world heritage by the U.N.E.S.C.O. The original trading purpose has changed into a major tourist attraction. Sailing on the "Canal du Midi" will always bring the same happiness, while watching the magical reflection of the hundred-year-old plane trees in the waters. Toulouse, the ever lasting red brick city, that Claude Nougaro, born here, sings so successfully, hides many secrets in its enchanted little historical squares and in the choir of the famous basilique Saint Sernin. The waters flow serenely like a fairy tale that feeds the imagination of adults as well as children...Sunflowers and wheat gently quiver in the breeze, followed by vineyards promising bewitching and heady wines. The "Seuil de Naurouze", a parting place where the rivers flee respectively towards the Mediterranean or the Ocean, gives way to Castelnaudary well renowned for its food. Its "Grand Bassin" is as interesting as the art of cooking the famous "cassoulet". We will come back to History with the Ramparts of the city of Carcassonne, the wonderful medieaval town, with its stoned narrow streets and charming shops, restored in the XIXth century by the architect Viollet Le Duc. Highlights Toulouse : wealthy historical town with the Capitol (the city Hall), the Jacobins, (church and monastery), the museum of the Augustins, and the wonderful architectures of pink bricks. Also a contemporary industrial town with the Aerospatiale and the Cité de l'Espace, to help you discover some secrets of the Universe. That busy University town, with a Spanish touch, houses lots of youngsters who enjoy life on the squares and café terraces till the early hours of the hot summer nights. The Cabardès : perched on a steep slope of the Montagne Noire, opposite Carcassonne, offers a great many charming landscapes, as well as small villages to discover, and characters to come across while tasting wine. Revel : for more than a century, a major place for the manufacturing of furniture, and marqueting, visit of the workshops and the Conservatoire of woodcrafts. Do not miss the Résevoir of Saint Ferréol, the main supply for the Canal du Midi. A cruise Departure from Toulouse to Castelnaudary is a round trip of 80 kms (50 miles), with 46 locks, 7 days long.

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