As one of the few traditional Canal du Midi barges remaining on the historic canal, the Athos awakens the romance and history of the Canal du Midi and Southern France when you cruise aboard her. Builders began constructing the Canal du Midi in 1666 during the reign of Louis XIV, creating one of the oldest European waterways still used today by boats and barges like the Athos.
Athos: Special Canal du Midi Design
Designers specifically built Athos for the Canal du Midi in 1964 as a commercial grain and wine barge. They carefully conceived her design to fit the canal’s narrow waterway and low 17th-century bridges. In 1982, owners converted Athos into a luxury hotel barge for the first time. In an amazing twist of fate, the original conversion plans returned to us only a few years ago. You can view the 1982 design plans here.
In 2007, builders completely rebuilt Athos and redesigned her cabins. They installed modern luxuries such as individual heating and air conditioning, ensuite bathrooms, and a state-of-the-art galley kitchen. More recently, they added a hydraulic all-weather terrace cover. Once again, designers took painstaking measurements and created custom solutions to ensure Athos could pass beneath the Canal du Midi’s very low bridges.
The Musketeers
Athos originally belonged to a family of four commercial barges that carried freight along the Canal du Midi. Their owners appropriately named them after the Musketeers—Athos, Portos, Aramis, and d’Artagnan—and locals and lock keepers fondly called them the “Petit Train.” The barges followed one another along the canal, transporting wine and grain to ports across the inland waterways of Southern France.
Athos and the three other Musketeers feature covered wheelhouses that allow them to pass under even the lowest bridges on the Canal du Midi. Some barges must dismantle their wheelhouses to clear the bridges, leaving the pilot to work under the hot sun.
Made to Measure: Athos Wheelhouse
Watching the captain guide Athos through the smallest 17th-century Canal du Midi bridges at Capestang and Colombiers showcases remarkable skill. He maneuvers within two inches of the wheelhouse on either side. Owner Julian has piloted Athos on the canal for more than 35 years, and regular pilot Pierre Yves has navigated her for the past 10 seasons. Together, they have maneuvered the barge along the UNESCO-listed waterway more than 5,000 times. They handle the process with precision—just as the Musketeers’ pilots must have done more than 60 years ago.