Joining an Athos Cruise on the Canal du Midi

Travel Tips & How to get Here.

You’ve hit the “Contact Us” button, you’ve confirmed your Canal du Midi cruise dates, you’ve booked! The next stage is travel-planning.

Athos Crew come to meet and transfer passengers to the boat on Sundays in Beziers, 15:30 – 16:30. We’ll meet you at your choice of locations: Beziers Train Station, Beziers Airport, Beziers Car Hire centres, or a Beziers hotel where you’ve stayed the night before.

This post is to help you with your airline and travel searches. It lists the closest airports, train stations and useful websites that will help you get to Athos’ Canal du Midi cruise start and end point in Beziers. Athos can recommend a few regional hotels that meet her discerning standards. And please, don’t hesitate to ask Dannielle if you’d like her to pick up the phone and make a hotel or B&B booking on your behalf. Read on!

Closest AIRPORTS to fly to:

PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE

The largest French airport that connects internationally. To travel from Paris to Beziers, the most relaxing option is the direct and easy 4 hour high-speed train (TGV) into Beziers centre. Sunday TGVs go from: Paris Gare de Lyon 11:05 – 15:33 Beziers train station. There are also TGV’s that link Paris CDG Airport Train Terminal 09:58-15:32 Beziers *change trains at Montpellier. Alternatively, check whether your international airline offers the internal Air France connector from CDG into Montpellier.

BARCELONA EL PRAT

hosts direct international flights from North America, and also connects by train with the main line into France in just under 2.5 hours. Sunday trains from Barcelona Sants (train station) go from 14:30 – 16:35 Beziers. Rental cars can also be hired at Barcelona airport, and by autoroute, it is an easy 2.5 hours by car to Beziers. Cars can be rented at Barcelona International Airport and dropped at Beziers Vias Airport or Beziers Train Station (Europcar, Hertz).

MARSEILLE-MARIGNAN (also called Marseille-Provence)

hosts direct flights from Montreal, and is also a major European hub for flight connections. There is a train terminal at the airport and a direct train connection to Beziers on Sundays: Airport 12:06 – 14:37 arr Beziers Station.

TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC

A major international hub, Toulouse also has a 20-minute free shuttle bus that takes passengers from the Arrivals terminal into the central train station. There are multiple times connecting to Beziers, including Sundays dep TLS 14:39- arr 16:07 Beziers.

MONTPELLIER-MEDITERANÉE

Air France flights connect main European hubs to Montpellier. EasyJet also runs daily flights from London Gatwick to Montpellier. A 20-minute shuttle service connects from Montpellier Airport to Saint Roch Train station. Trains run regularly to Beziers and take 40 minutes. Athos suggests the Baudon de Mauny hotel in Montpellier in the event that you choose to stay a night, or the Hotel Le Guilhem.

How to book TRAINS

Train times and tickets from all European cities can be found online 90 days in advance of the date of departure. Trainline is an easy to use website. Tickets can be purchased online 90 days in advance of the departure date. *Hint: if it is more than 90 days in advance and you’d like to check train times, simulate the schedule by picking a later date with the same days of the week for you’ll be wanting travel. Main lines typically keep the same schedule the year around, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. Although our favourite (most user-friendly) train website is Trainline, the direct and official French website for trains is SNCF. In the event of discrepancy between the two sites, SCNF tends to be the most accurate and updated. For example, explanations like works on lines or strike information do not appear on Trainline)

BEZIERS HOTELS we can recommend:

If you choose to spend a night in the Beziers area pre-cruise, Athos Crew will collect you from your hotel on the Sunday of your cruise departure.

Hotel Particulier Beziers

La Villa Guy

In Situ

Chateau Hotel Raissac

info@athosdumidi.com for help.

Family Barge Holiday!

Barging isn’t just for grown-ups — it can be great family fun. A family cruise on Athos has the makings of perfect peace. Remove yourself from the hustle and demands of the work & school programme, hand over the making of family meals to a talented Chef. Let your Tour Guide work out the logistics of site-seeing and getting you where your group wants to go. Athos and her trusty crew make it all possible, no matter the differences in age or interests.

FAQ’s – Facts and Questions about a Family Fun Cruise onboard Athos

family canal cruise Carcassonne — kids activities in Carcassonne

Will there be activities to keep children busy?

Athos’ Family Fun Cruise Itinerary includes activities and a daily plan that has something for the whole family. There is flexibility built in so that your group can tailor your own interests (some families have signed up for a morning horseback riding, others hit the beach or the waterslide park, some go for kayaking…). The options are yours and require a simple request to Athos’ expert Tour Guide. He’ll figure it all out for you.

Family horseback riding — Family trail ride at the Fount del Bosc, Argeliers

A 4 month old baby will be part of our family group. Do you have a car seat, baby cot and high chair?

Yes. Athos has a collection of appropriate baby car seats from the rear-facing newborn variety all the way to appropriate booster-seats for children under 36kgs. Just let us know the approximate weight/age of babies, toddlers and children pre-arrival. We’ll have it ready and installed in cars for the week.

Athos also has travel cots or roll-guards for baby or younger children’s beds. Depending on the numbers of your group and how you wish to distribute cabins amongst family members, Athos is happy to make suggestions on which cabins would be most conveniently used for which equipment.

High chairs and baby bicycle seats are available. Just say the word!

We are a multigenerational group. Grandparents are unlikely to want to kayak. Can they wine-taste instead?

The options are endless! In short, yes. Athos runs two Chrysler minivans, which means that as long as family members can agree to a 6/6 split or 6/4 split etc…there is no reason why one crew member can’t take kids and one adult to the beach, while the Tour Guide heads off wine tasting with Grandma, Grandpa and few others. Also, Athos crew are good at making use of the whole day – so while some family members may wish to just chill onboard for the morning, lunch, cruising…all is not wasted. Your Guide will have further plans; for example, a game of petanque on arrival to the evening’s mooring spot, or a quick swim at the river around the corner before family dinner on deck.

We are a family of 3 and we’d like to join a Family Bike/Barge Cruise on the Canal du Midi?

Athos runs the Family Fun cruise for whole boat Charter groups only. Your group can be as small as 2 or as large as 12. We won’t, however, mix families with children on individual cabin-booking weeks because we have an idea that wine tasting, history and foie gras aren’t everything to keep kids interested over their hols!

Family Charter Athos Canal cruise — Diesel the Ship’s Dog was invited along by this family during their week onboard Athos!
Have a read about Ciao Bambino’s family week onboard Athos.

Athos history: a lovely story and an amazing email exchange

Athos history. It’s where our business all began.

Athos is not exactly a “mainstream” business. But because we are so entrenched in all things hotel-barging, I forget that hotel barging isn’t deeply known or understood world ’round. We have lived on Athos or nearby the Canal du Midi for over 20 years now. We are in close contact with others who also run hotel barge businesses both on the Canal du Midi and in other areas of France. I write multiple daily emails explaining the how, what and why of Athos and hotel barging. I point people at FAQ links, make suggestions about how to travel to Athos’ meeting point and answer a whole variety of questions…

Last week I had a series of emails about Athos history that surprised even me. And it turned out to be a lovely story:

Jonathan Sargent, Aug 3 (5 days ago)
to me

Good afternoon,

I went to an estate sale here in the USA and purchased blueprints of the ‘Athos’ and I was curious if you could tell me more about waterline and the boats history. Thank you for your time.

Aug 4 (4 days ago)
to Jonathan

Hello Jonathan –

How amazing! …I imagine this was Mimi’s estate? Mimi was one of the original financiers and shareholders of the Athos. She and her husband Pierre Noubel undertook the makeover and project which are now your blueprints. They then set Athos up as a canal-tourism business and brought over many well-heeled Americans who would never have undertaken to see the then-back-woods of Southwestern France and the Canal du Midi!

Athos still runs as a luxury hotel barge on the Canal du Midi, and has done since her makeover as per the blueprints in 1982 — slightly changed in cabin layout and certainly in decor, but in essence as your blueprints indicate. Julian was a Captain from 1988, just after Pierre Noubel sold the barge to new owners. From 2001-2004, Julian and I leased Athos, and then by 2004 bought Athos together, and winter of 2006 gave her a massive interior makeover. We are still running it as an active business.

Previously to 1982, Athos would probably have been destined for the North African boat scrapyards. We think this is what happened to her 3 sister ships: the D’Artagnan, Portos and the Aramis. All 4 Musketeers were built in 1965 in the Marne, specifically for the Canal du Midi to be used as freighters. Canal du Midi barges have very very low wheelhouses in order to fit through the extremely low 16thC bridges. (have a look at the arch drawn in over the narrow silouette in Image 4 of the Plans!) Many of these kind of freighters would have held grain, wine, sand, or fuel. We know Athos didn’t carry fuel, but we don’t know whether she was more concentrated on grain/wine or sand. Generally speaking, 1965-built barges had (give or take) a 25-year life span. They were welded steel hulls with flat bottoms, and a maximum depth of 1.3m…not the ultra-thick black iron riveted hulls of their earlier Dutch-built counterparts.

Alas, Athos’ lifespan technically should have been up by now, but she is drydocked annually, re-treated (and even re-bottomed in this past 15 years), and has constant and ongoing maintenance, improvements and tweaks.

In fact, we’d be hugely grateful for a copy if you are able to either .pdf or post to us in France? I’m not sure how big the plans are? We seem to only have the electrics blueprint in our collection, and we still work around the water-tight bulkheads and fire doors indicated in the original copy.

Hope the above is of some interest and use to you.

Kind regards,

Dannielle & Julian FARRANT

Jonathan Sargent
Aug 4 (4 days ago)
to me

Let me start by saying thank you so much for the Athos history and for all of the information. My wife and I just started going to estate sales and this is truly a wonderful find indeed. I have pictures as the blueprints are very large in size. Wow… I am just in amazement. This is really neat to find on the other side of the world. Let me see what I can do. Would pictures work?

P.s. When we started looking at these, my wife immediately said, “There has to be a three musketeers connection.”

Sent from my iPhone

Jonathan Sargent
Aug 5 (3 days ago)
to me

Dannielle,

I miss-spoke and called them blueprints but they are actually schematics from the 1980’s. I had intentions of selling these to make something back but after talking about it with my wife, we would like to send what we have to you and Julian. We just feel like this belongs with the two of you. Let me know where we can send them to and I will let you know when they are sent. The history that you shared was more than what we ever anticipated. Thank you for sharing that with us, as we will never forget it.

-Cheers-

The Sargent’s

Dannielle Farrant <info@athosdumidi.com>
Aug 5 (3 days ago)
to Jonathan

Wow Johnathan – this is incredibly gracious of you! We are of course delighted to share Athos history with anyone who wants to listen and we are so grateful that you have pieced together some of her missing artifacts!

Lastly, I am so tickled by our exchange that I wanted to ask if I could post our emails as part of a Blog post on Athos’ website, linking it to some of the write-up about Athos history?

Best regards, Dannielle & Julian

Sent from my iPhone

Jonathan Sargent
Aug 5 (3 days ago)
to me

Oh wow! That would be so cool. Maybe one day when we are in Paris, we can stop by to say hello. I will put them in the mail tomorrow. Please let me know when you have received them. That way we know they made it home. 🙂

From our home with love, Jonathan & Ashley Sargent, Gulfport, MS

For the record, Johnathan & Ashley – if ever you’re keen to pop by and see Athos, you know where to find us! Truly, Thank-you.

A selection of Athos’ historical Plans, found by Johnathan & Ashley Sargent, Gulfport, MS

And if you’re interested…here’s a bit more on Athos history

Why a Canal du Midi Cruise on Luxury Hotel Boat Athos should be on your bucket list.

A Canal du Midi Cruise on Athos is a South of France experience that is a once in a lifetime, must-do holiday. Here’s why:

Athos makes your Canal du Midi cruise exclusive and personalised. VIP is the only class and service option.

Athos carries a maximum of 10 passengers on board in any given week and her 5 full time crew members ensure that they are given every attention and comfort. Athos and her crew are all about making your special Canal du Midi holiday the lifetime trip to remember. With the option of chartering the entire boat for up to 10 passengers, you can choose your own group of preferred travellers. If you’d like to stay away from the crowds, Athos’ crew can arrange that.

It’s not JUST a luxury Canal du Midi Cruise.

Inclusive shore excursions mean that you’ll See & Experience More on hotel barge Athos. Because Athos’ experienced crew will look after the complicated travel questions of Where-to…? How-to…? and What’s-on-the-menu… we make it possible for you to do far more than an independent traveller in the South of France.

During a week onboard, Athos’ Canal du Midi cruise activities include:

cruising the Canal du Midi by historical hotel barge and exploring the surrounding area.
tasting and travelling your way through the vast wine region,
delighting your palate with the onboard Chef’s repertoire (tweaked to your preferences of course)
walking & bicycling the surrounding countryside
sitting back and enjoy the flavours, fun and experiences without losing time figuring it all out.

Have a look at our detailed suggestions on the Best of Languedoc itinerary.

Outdoor Luxury

Athos offers magical days seeing the South of France that way it is best appreciated – from outdoors. What other form of hotel offers the comforts of a hotel that floats and moves with you on your journey, taking luxury into the countryside from her generous top deck? The Languedoc’s Mediterranean climate and landscapes are warm, rustic, charming – and all able to be experienced from your comfortable lounge chair on the Athos deck. Here’s a little photo selection and a link to historical and practical information about the Canal du Midi to whet your appetite!

Click here to Drop us an email to ask questions, dates and details.

Athos Family Fun Charter Itinerary

A week of fun for everyone: horseback riding, swimming in the Med, canalside cycling, learning petanque with our professional petanque-playing guide Matt(!!), or challenge Captain Julian to a tennis match! Throw in a fantastic personal chef who is open to your family’s dietary preferences, add glorious Canal du Midi cruising on the luxurious Athos, and call it a perfect Family Barge Boat Holiday.

ARGELIERS
Sunday 4pm pick up at designated point in Beziers
Your family will be met by ATHOS Captain and Manager. In the comfort of ATHOS’ private air-conditioned Chrysler minivans, you will be chauffeured to where the ATHOS awaits you at her moorings. You will be treated to a full-crew Welcome Aboard, including an introduction to the Ship’s Dog, Jill! Toasting with either Champagne or soft drinks, the Chef will offer a selection of Mediterranean canapés fit for kids and adults alike.

Once you are settled into your cabin, there may still be time for a quick bicycle ride alongside the canal. The Athos collection of children’s and adult bicycles & helmets are at your disposal throughout the week.

You will be invited to a 4-course dinner, prepared by our highly acclaimed Chef. Athos will have asked in advance for details about your family’s likes and dislikes so that the crew can present you with meals that meet the whole family’s approval! Discuss with the Chef about whether you’d like to have a few adults-only evening meals, or whether your gourmet experience will be a Family Dinner every evening.

Monday ARGELIERS to LA CROISADE
While coffee is available at any time from the bar, continental-style breakfast is served, at your leisure, beginning at 8:30am. A breakfast buffet offers a selection to please everyone: cereals, juices, yogurts, cold meats and cheese, and of course fresh pastries and bread from the local boulangerie! Your guide suggests an excursion to the famous Medieval double-walled city of Carcassonne where he will includes the legendary tales of Dame Carcas, and a visit to the tombstone of Simon de Montfort. She will also make sure that there is still time to browse the shops!

The Captain is getting ATHOS underway for an afternoon’s cruise to La Croisade, and Chef serves up another gourmet meal while the whole family relaxes on the sunny deck.

If exercise and a swim are in order, cycling enthusiasts might like to hop off with bicycles. Alternatively, your guide proposes a quick drive to the swimming hole at the Cesse River under the 17thC Canal Bridge. Ready for a refreshing glass of wine or a cold drink? Another delicious meal has been prepared. The on board hostess asks if everyone would like to eat al fresco, under the shade of the Plain Trees?

Tuesday LA CROISADE to CAPESTANG
After breakfast, your guide suggests a morning outing to the local equestrian centre. Along with the sheep, goats & chickens, la Fount del Bosc has a collection of very well-kept, well-educated poneys and horses. Your guide suggests a morning trail-ride en famille. On the way back, your guide stops at Bize Minervois, where the locals swim in the river – a refreshing cool-down at the end of an enjoyable hack.

Returning to Athos for a well-earned lunch on the Athos deck, Captain Julian starts the engines, and the Athos moves off. As Athos moors for evening, the crew suggests a quick game of Petanque (or French boules). The vineyards surrounding are sprawling and the view over Capestang towards the floodlit St Etienne collegiale is a pleasant setting for an outdoor dinner.

Wednesday CAPESTANG – FONSERANNES

This morning your guide invites enthusiastic swimmers and paddlers on an excursion into the Cevennes mountains, where large, wide kayaks float down the River Orb! After the scenic drive into the hills, everyone is handed a helmet and lifejacket, then set off in kayaking groups to navigate the mostly-shallow riverbed. Chef has packed a superb picnic lunch to be served by crew who have accompanied you on the adventure. For those more enthusiastic about relaxing than kayaking, Julian invites you to stay on board for a leisurely cruise, lunch on deck, and a quiet time under the parasol. When kayakers return to Athos, cruising continues as far as the Fonserannes.

This evening’s mooring is the breath-taking viewpoint at the Fonserannes. Perhaps a little cycle ride down to the famous staircase locks and the Canal Bridge will work up your appetite for the Chef’s creations this evening?

Thursday FONSERANNES to PORTIRAGNE
Following breakfast, your guide invites you on a side-trip to the weekly morning market in Narbonne? Even for non-shoppers, Narbonne offers bustling entertainment on a Thursday morning. Explore an excavated portion of the original Roman road, the Via Domitia, or, browse through the well-compiled Roman Museum and the beauty of St. Juste Cathedral. Or, simply take a moment to blend into the scene by sitting and relaxing in one of the many cafés. At 12 o’clock, your guide leads you to one of the most popular lunch spots at the brasserie Chez Bebelle in the covered food market. It is a busy, atmospheric and in-demand spot run by ex-rugby player Gilles Bebelle. The lunch is a casual affair, and the entertainment is Bebelle himself who calls out orders between the butchers’ stall and his grill. Heads up – the cuts fly!

On your return, Captain Julian and his deck hand are busy getting ATHOS underway. This 17thC feat of engineering, the Neuf Ecluses (or staircase locks), is sure to impress! ATHOS crew expertly tie her up in each lock, and wait for the gates to close safely behind her before the water levels empty out and allow her to pass one locks into the next. But it’s not over yet! Coming up next is the 18thC Canal Bridge that will carry the ATHOS over the Orb River.

The paved towpath and the many locks leading to this village make it an ideal afternoon for walking or cycling alongside the ATHOS.

When we arrive at the evening’s mooring just outside the small village of Portiragnes, your guide invites swimmers for a quick trip to the white sand beach (either by bicycle or car, as it’s only 1.5km away!) and a swim in the Mediterranean. Dinner on board.

Friday PORTIRAGNES to MARSEILLAN
Athos will get underway just after breakfast. Some active family members may like to take the bicycles back to the beach for a quick swim, and then return to re-board the Athos as she makes her way under the Portiragnes bridge.

A spectacular seafood lunch arrives as you enter the open-waters of the Etang de Thau. The Etang hosts Europe’s largest Mussel and Oyster Park. The crew’s favourite swimming pool is the Etang! Join them and jump in to cool off!

As ATHOS comes to moor in the port at Marseillan, you will notice the enclosure of the Noilly Prat Vermouth distillery. End a perfect day with a walking visit of the village, a romp around the seaside play-park which is a stone’s throw from Athos’ mooring, or a leisurely cycle ride down the promenade. Alternatively, ask your guide to book you Tennis courts on the clay courts here. Captain Julian and guide Matt are both keen players and there might be a family vs crew tournament to be had?

Chef’s efforts are sure to make this evening worth remembering! Captain Julian will join your party for your final dinner on board this evening. During the evening, he will also invite the crew, including Jill, to make a farewell toast with you.

Saturday MARSEILLAN
After breakfast, everyone waves goodbye to Jill and the Crew, who have looked after your every need throughout the week. The minivans will now depart to the appointed destination in Beziers.

Athos on Etang de Thau