Canal de la Robine
Canal de la Robine
The Canal de Jonction which connects the Canal du Midi to the Aude River was completed in 1789. And in 1872 the Canal de la Robine made it possible to connect the Aude River and the Mediterranean Sea through Narbonne and Port la Nouvelle. Upon opening it to river traffic, it became clear that a waterway needed to be opened to reach the Mediterranean through Narbonne in order to benefit from the trade generated by the canal.
Not to miss : the seven locks of the canal, especially the Ecluse du Gailhousty and its siphon. The latter dates back to 1780 (at the exit of Sallèles d’Aude towards Narbonne), and is composed of a siphon and a double lock that allows boats to move between the Canal de Jonction and the Aude River.
Sallèles d’Aude (11590)
The history of Sallèles Aude began in antiquity. A port located at the crossroads of four waterways, the city was important commercially, particularly in the wine trade. But it was especially a great center of Gallo-Roman pottery, and exported its production (amphorae, bricks, tiles, dishes ...) throughout Europe.
Not to miss : the Maison des Ingénieurs, the aqueduct from the 2nd century. Other sites to see: Le Calvaire (calvary), Notre Dame (church), the remains of the Renaissance castle, the chapelle Saint Roch (chapel).
Syndicat d’initiative - Tourist information Desk
22 Avenue du Gailhousty, 11590 Sallèles d'Aude
Tel : 04 68 58 73 13.
Open from June through September
June, Wednesday to Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30/ 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
July and August, daily: 10 a.m. to 1p.m./ 3:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
September, Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m./ 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m./ 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Amphoralis Museum
Allée des potiers, 11590 Sallèles d'Aude
Tel: 04 68 46 89 48.
Full price/ reduced price: €5/ €3. Free on the first Sunday of the month.
Opening time:
June through September, Tuesday to Sunday: 10 a .m. to 12 p.m./ 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
October through May, Tuesday to Friday: 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m./ 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The museum overhangs the archaeological site of a gallo-roman potter’s workshop. The latter was active between 20/30 BC and the IIIrd century and excavated from 1976. The visitors can discover the occupation of the potters and their daily life. They mass-produced amphora which allowed to contain and carry the wine, as well as various building materials (bricks, roof tiles) and ceramic dishes. After the visit of the museum, an outdoor path leads to the reconstruction of the ancient kilns and of a house, identically built by the museum team in a traditional way. As an experimental archaeology center and a place of cultural activities for the public, Amphoralis welcomes you for an original trip, at the heart of this craftmen district.
Amphoralis offers you :
- many animations all year (visits, family workshops, pottery courses...),
- free app ton download on your smartphone on AppStore or GooglePlay or on tablet at the museum, videos, augmented virtuality feature on digs,
- translations in english, german, spanish,
- a game booklet for children from 7 to 10 years old
Narbonne (11100)
With 2000 years of rich history, of which the Voie Domitia remains one of the earliest vestiges, Narbonne offers visitors a diverse heritage. For visitors traveling along the Canal de la Robine, a tour of the city and its treasures is not to be missed.
Not to miss : the Pont des Marchands (bridge), the Palais des Archevêques (the Archbishop's Palace), the Cathédrale Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur (cathedral), et Basilique Saint-Paul-Serge (basilica).
Tourist Office
31 rue Jean Jaures
, 11100 Narbonne
Website - tel: 04 68 65 15 60.
Open daily. From mid-September through March: Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / 13:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; April to mid-September, every day: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Accommodation available for visitors with disabilities.
Boat Rental
Le Boat
Website - tel: 04 68 94 42 80.
Company also located in Portiragnes, Trebes, Homps and Castelnaudary. Rentals for two days to two weeks. Departure possible from many ports on the canal.
Bicycle Rentals
Cycles Cancel Alain
22 Avenue de Gruissan, 11100 Narbonne
Tel: 04 68 65 12 26.
From Somail to Homps
Back on the Canal du Midi
Le Somail (11120)
The town of Le Somail was dedicated to the nighttime layovers of the postal boats, an important place where they spent the first night coming from Sète or the third night from Toulouse. It is thanks to the canal activity that Le Somail developed and remains today a charming hamlet.
Some sites in town worth visiting: the Pont Vieux (bridge), the Pont Saint Marcel or Pont Neuf (bridge, 1773), the ice house, the chapel (1693), the guard building and the inn (1684). The latter was used to for the “couchées”, the nighttime layovers. Just 2 kilometers to the east, the navigable aqueduct and siphon of Patiasses spreads along 64 meters, with an 8-meter wall. Le Somail is very animated during the summer.
Tourist Office
168 Allée de la Glacière, 11120 Le Somail
Website - tel : 04 68 41 55 70.
Opening times:
November through March, Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m./ 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ;
April through June, September and October: Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ;
July and August, every day: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Boat Rental in Le Somail
Nicols
11120 Le Somail
Website - tel: 02 41 56 46 56
Also present in Port Lauragais (Avignonet-Lauragais).
Minervois cruisers
38 Chemin Patiasses, 11120 Le Somail
Website - Tel: 04 68 46 28 52.
Weekly or weekend rental.
The Navigable Aqueduct of Répudre
The navigable aqueduct of Répudre dates back to 1676 and is a technical masterpiece, as well as historic, because for the first time a canal was able to pass over a river. It would be the only one built by Riquet, the following ones would be completed by Vauban. It measures 135 meters long and its construction required more than 400 workers.
Argens-Minervois (11200)
The beautiful village of Minervois is organized around a 14th century castle overlooking the canal. Also features a port.
Boat Rental in Argens-Minervois
Locaboat Holidays
Port Occitanie, 11200 Argens-Minervois
Website - tel : 03 86 91 72 72
Bicycle Rental in Argens-Minervois
Mellow Vélos
Route neuve, 11200 Paraza
Website - tel: 06 50 50 01 49.
Bicycle transport possible.
Art Gallery (along the canal)
Le C.L.A.P
6 Rue Parrot, 11200 Paraza
Website- Tel: 04 68 32 14 80.
Open from Wednesday to Saturday: 3 p.m - 7 p.m.
Homps (11200)
This ancient trading port was one of the most important along the canal in the 19th century. The port is nice and well adapted for a stop.
Not to miss : Eglise Saint-Etienne (Romanesque church) and Saint-Michel tower of the ancient castle.
Boats Rides in Homps
Croisières du Midi
35 quai des Tonneliers, 11200 Homps
Website - tel : 04 68 91 33 00.
Offers traditional barge rides. Duration: 2 hours.
Rentals by the day or longer in Homps
Le Boat
Website - tel : 04 68 94 42 80.
Also located in Portiragnes, Trebes, Narbonne and Castelnaudary. Rentals from two days to two weeks. Departure is possible from many ports on the canal.
Croisières Handy
Port Minervois
, 11200 Homps
Website - 04 68 91 33 00.
Boats equipped to accommodate guests with reduced mobility.
Les Canalous
Port Minervois, 11200 Homps
Website - 03 85 53 76 74.
Also located in Agde, Carcassonne and Colombiers.
From La Redorte to Carcassonne
La Redorte (11700)
The port of La Redorte was known for its wine barrel factory.
The Canal du Midi crosses the Argent-Double River thanks to a navigable aqueduct. At this point, when the canal is too full, excess water flows into the river that runs below through a stone siphon.
Marseillette (11800)
Features monuments worth visiting: Eglise Saint André (church, 12th century) and the Tour de Marseillette (tower), built in 1834 by Napoleon III.
Trèbes (11800)
Trebes was an important step in the canal navigation, as it was the stop for the second “couchée” (nighttime layover) until the construction of a port 6 kilometers from Carcassonne. The Ecluse de Trebes is a triple lock. Features a nearby mill.
Not to miss : Eglise Saint-Etienne (church) with its 320 ravens carved in oak (late 13th and early 14th century). The Orbiel aqueduct: this beautiful waterway work featuring 3 arches through which the Canal crosses the Orbiel valley was built with plans by Vauban in 1686.
Tourist Office
12 avenue Pierre Curie
, 11800 Trèbes
Tel : 04 68 78 89 50.
Opening time:
November through March, Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
April, May and October, daily: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
June through September, daily: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
L’Epicerie du Canal (convenience store)
45 Avenue Pasteur
, 11800 Trèbes
Tel: 04 68 79 73 36
.
Boat Rental in Trèbes
Le Boat
Website - tel : 04 68 94 42 80.
Also located in Portiragnes, Homps, Castelnaudary and Narbonne. Rentals from two days to two weeks. Departure possible from many ports along the canal.
Bicycle Rental in Trèbes
Locavélo
3 rue du Plô d’Orbiel, 11800 Trèbes
Website - tel : 04 68 78 68 81 or 06 88 06 54 26
.
Carcassonne (11000)
During the construction of the canal, the city of Carcassonne was left out of the waterway. Indeed, the natural passage followed the valley of Fresquel and the consuls, wanting to avoid paying the inherent rerouting costs, planned the canal two kilometers north of the city. The mistake was soon realized, as the costs of getting the goods from the canal to the city were too high. Yet it was only a century later, under pressure from the population, that the States of Languedoc decided to start work on a diversion. The canal finally passed through Carcassonne from 1810 onward, and a port was built there. Carcassonne then became the stopping place for the "couchées" (nighttime layovers) on the second night of the voyage, instead of in Trebes.
No to miss : The medieval city. A World Heritage site, it is explained at length in its individual section.
Tourist Office
28 rue de Verdun, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel: 04 68 10 24 30.
Opening time:
April, May, June, September and October, Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed on Sundays during October)
July and August, daily: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
November through March, Monday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tourist Office - Canal du Midi
Branch
Avenue du Maréchal Joffre, face au canal, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel : 04 68 10 24 36.
Open daily from April through September.
April, May and June 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ;
July, August and September: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / 1 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. (6 p.m. in September)
Port du Canal du Midi
Capitainerie, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel : 04 68 25 10 48.
The port is well equipped and offers many services, including shuttles to visit the city. Registration (for a fee) in the marina provides access to many services such as water, electricity, sanitary facilities, internet, and washing machine access.
Tourist boats offer guided rides. You can also rent boats for weekends or for a week.
Shuttles in the summer to the Medieval city.100 meters from the port, the Bastide Saint-Louis (city center) features a multitude of boutiques.
Local market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on Place Carnot.
Boat Rentals in Carcassonne
Canalous Plaisance
Base de Carcassonne,
15 quai Riquet
, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel : 03 85 53 76 74.
Also located in Agde, Homps and Colombiers.
Boat Rides in Carcassonne
Carcassonne Croisières
Port du Canal du Midi, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel : 06 80 47 54 33.
Bicycle Rentals in Carcassonne
Génération VTT
Website - tel : 06 09 59 30 85 or 07 82 32 67 11.
Opposite the train station, at the Port du Canal du Midi. From April to October.
Sleeping / Eating
In the medieval city of Carcassonne
Hôtel de la Cité *****
Place Auguste Pierre Pont, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - Tel: 04 68 71 98 71.
Room from €255.
Restaurants
The selection of restaurants proposed below consists of restaurants that offer a good price/quality value. These addresses are nearby the Canal du Midi. “Formule” corresponds to a lunch special with a starter and a main course, or a main course and a dessert. The “menus” usually consist of a starter, a main course and a dessert," for lunch or dinner.
Le Petit Comptoir - cuisine from the market
4 Boulevard du Maréchal Joffre, 11100 Narbonne
Website - tel: 04 68 42 30 35.
"Lunch menu" from €16. "Dinner menu" from €28.
La Table de Saint Crescent - Gourmet cuisine
68 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 11100 Narbonne
Website - tel: 04 68 41 37 37.
"Lunch menu" : €35. "Dinner menu" from €65.
Restaurants along the Canal du Midi
Le Comptoir Nature - Organic cuisine
1 Chemin de Halage, 11120 Le Somail
Website - tel: 04 68 46 01 61.
"Lunch formule" : €14.50. "Menu" from €17.50.
Le Moulin de Trèbes
2 Rue du Moulin, 11200 Trèbes
Website - tel: 04 68 78 97 57
.
"Lunch formule" from €19.
Restaurant in Carcassonne
In the Lower Town
Le bloc G - fresh products from the market
112 Rue Barbacane, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - Tel: 04 68 47 58 20.
Lunch formule €16. Main course around €18.
Restaurant Robert Rodriguez - fine seasonal cuisine
39 Rue Coste Reboulh, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - Tel: 04 68 47 37 80.
Main course from €25.
La Table Franck Putelat - gourmet cuisine
80 Chemin des Anglais, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel: 04 68 71 80 80.
"Lunch menu" €48. "Dinner menu" from €90.
Inside the Medieval City
Le Saint Jean - traditional cuisine
Place Saint Jean, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel: 04 68 47 42 43.
"Menu" from €16.
Au Jardin de la Tour - local cuisine
11 Rue de la Porte d'Aude, 11000 Carcassonne
Tel: 04 68 25 71 24.
"Menu" from €16. Only open for dinner.
La Table d'Alaïs - traditional cuisine
32 Rue du Plo, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - Tel: 04 68 71 60 63.
"Menu" from €19.90.
Comte Roger - traditional cuisine
14 Rue Saint Louis
, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel: 04 68 11 93 40.
"Lunch formule" €24. "Dinner menu" €43.
L’Auberge des Lices - local cuisine
3 Rue Raymond Roger Trencavel, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - tel: 04 68 72 34 07.
"Menu" from €20.
La Barbacane - gourmet cuisine
Place Auguste Pierre Pont, 11000 Carcassonne
Website - Tel: 04 68 71 98 71.
Lunch "Menu" €39. Dinner "Menu" from €95.
In the surrounding area
Château de Cavanac
11570 Cavanac
Website - Tel: 04 68 79 61 04.
"Menu" from €39.
