Athos du Midi

Athos Cruise Route Map

Dannielle Farrant — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:09:35 +0000

A helpful map showing where Athos cruises on the Canal du Midi: Athos Cruise Route Map

Languedoc Vineyards and Endless Wine Tastings

Dannielle Farrant — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:58:37 +0000

In addition to a full week’s luxury barge cruise, Athos endeavors to find at least one wine tasting in the Languedoc area each week. As the same tastings are new to passengers each week, we often do the same wineries. Having said that, over the years we’ve found wine tastings and visits so varied, interesting and educational that it’s well worth breaking an easy routine in favour of going somewhere new.

Some of the Athos’ recommended Languedoc wine visits:

Domaine de Guery – friends of the family, a charming visit of an 18thC winery and traditional equipment still in use
Domaine Pain de Sucre – new to Athos, thorough and a very pleasant setting
Mas Daumas Gassac – a bit of a drive from the Canal du Midi area, but well-acclaimed internationally and worth the extra time spent on the road
Borie du Maurel – a stunning corner of the Minervois, and scrummy wines to boot. Glamorous tasting Cave.
Domaine la Colombette – just outside Beziers, dangerously quaffable Sauvignon Blanc
Les Trois Blasons – an upmarket Cave Co-op close to the town of Minerve
Chateau la Vernède – fabulous historical Chateau setting, huge cave & broad selection of wines
Chateau Perdiguier –thorough estate visit and tasting
Chateau Ventenac – Cave co-op directly borders the Canal du Midi
Domaine Saint Brhune – in Athos’ home port of Argeliers, fruity summertime rosé & smooth, rounded reds.
Chateau de Brau – close to Carcassonne, offering some organic wines.

Languedoc Grapes on Languedoc vines

Languedoc Grapes & Vines

Blog Cheater – great pics Athos passengers!

Dannielle Farrant — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:39:56 +0000

The problem with writing a blog for a luxury hotel-barge is that the management side of the business is just about has heavy as the barge. You’ll no doubt have observed that writing has been pretty low on the priority list these past few months. Fortunately, one of our first passengers of this barging season was kind enough to provide some fantastic blog-fodder. Thanks to David Wright who was on Athos’ “shake-down” week for 2011, I don’t need to witter on about how much he enjoyed his week onboard. Great photos – thanks David!

Luxury hotel barge dog

Jilly the luxury hotel barge Athos' onboard doggy

Canal du Midi luxury hotel barge cruising

Tall bridge at Portiragne on the Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi Onshore excursions from hotel barge AThos, Carcassonne

Luxury hotel barge Athos has her own top deck herb garden

Chef cutting fresh herbs from the deck herb-garden

Athos cruises to Marseillan port from the Canal du Midi

Luxury hotel barge Athos in Mediterranean Marseillan Port, Etang de Thau

Hotel barge Athos and Luxurious South of France climate

Dannielle Farrant — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:37:11 +0000

Athos has been safely put to bed for nearly 24 hours – and le voila, the rain finally began to fall this afternoon.

What luck and what a relief to have completed a season of luxury hotel-barging with pure sunshine and virtually no rain for months and months. Rather than bemoaning the lack of sunny times, we shall be counting as the Canal du Midi reservoirs fill up and ensure next season’s cruises.

I guess this marks the start of winter in the Languedoc?

Languedoc vineyards in Winter

End of barging season 2011

Dannielle Farrant — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:09:17 +0000