Alouette

Canal du Midi Cruises

Passengers: 4
Size: 98 feet long
Last Visited: 2003
Rating: Ultra Deluxe, A/C

updated 2009 Rates - as of 3/26/09

(Must be booked before June 30, 2009 and cannot be combined with any other special offers.)
Whole Boat Charter:
$24,300

These rates apply to new bookings only.  Train fare to and from the cruise route is additional and must be purchased separately.  We can pre-purchase train tickets before departure.

New for 2009!  Alouette now offers a CULINARY CRUISE!  Cook your way through France's most beautiful canal - every day there are new recipies and techniques to try.  The Chef will demonstrate in Alouette's Open Kitchen.  Go to our Itinerary section for the complete program!  Bon Appetit!

Alouette is now wholly owned by Orient Express, operator of luxury travel experiences worldwide. In an extremely exciting re-launch, Alouette was gutted and rebuilt in 2008.
It now carries just four passengers in ultimate comfort and style. It's new rating is Ultra-Deluxe.


The big and beautiful staterooms are outfitted with satellite TV, DVD, a phone itercom
system - while the decor reeks of luxury - Italian Linens dress the beds. Hand-cut tiles
line the bath.

In the Salon is Grange furniture and solid oak floors. Like in the cabins, the "look" is
light, colorful, airy. A computer with unlimited internet access connects this lovely
cocoon to the outside world!

The 2008 crew of four featured Pilot Luke who has driven all five vessels in the
Orient Express fleet and "Aussie" Chef Angus who has lived, trained and cooked in
France for many years. He delighted his guests by sharing "tips" while cooking in Alouette's open "Demonstration Kitchen!"

Included in the itinerary are the top sights of the Midi - as well as many opportunities
to walk or hike on the towpaths lining this tree-lined canal.

Alouette

Canal du Midi Barge Cruise Itinerary

Beziers to Carcassonne on the Canal du Midi
CULINARY CRUISE

Sunday: Beziers

A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. During this first evening there is an opportunity to talk with the chef and discuss your cooking interests and you will discover what you will prepare during your week on board. Later that evening, enjoy your first dining experience on board.

Monday: Cruise to Capestang
Lunch preparation Quiche & Terrine. Tour Oppidum d’Enserune.
(Cooking lesson: Tarte au Citron and Caramel sauce.)

A morning cruise along the beautiful Canal du Midi to Capestang. The Canal is one of the most beautiful in France, with many locks, bridges and tunnels. This morning we start with our first cookery lesson in the well equipped kitchen of the Alouette, we are preparing lunch today and learning how to cook the classic French Quiche Lorriane and also a county style terrine, which is very popular in this area. In the afternoon, visit Oppidum d’Enserune, a pre-Roman hill-top settlement and one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. The top of the hill affords a panoramic view of the pond of Montady drained in 1247 and transformed into a curious pattern of cultivation. Return to the barge, and continue with the cookery lessons. This afternoon we will prepare a wonderful lemon tart served with a drizzle of caramel sauce, perfect for your dessert tonight on board.

Tuesday: Cruise to LeSomail
Prepare a Gazpacho summer soup. Visit Abbaye de Fontfroide.
(Cooking lesson: Rack of lamb and red wine and tarragon sauce.)

Enjoy a relaxing breakfast as you take in the grandeur and beauty of the Canal du Midi, with its fine locks, buildings and aqueducts, scarcely changed from their completion over 300 years ago. During the morning, there will be chance to return to the kitchen and prepare a summer soup – an avocado and cherry tomato gazpacho which we present in a long tall glass for maximum effect! After lunch, visit l’Abbaye de Fontfroide, a Cistercian monastery founded in the 11th century. Now privately owned, the abbey has been lovingly restored with a well-kept garden and peaceful cloister. On the way back to the boat, stop at Château Auris for a wine tasting. Tonight Rack of lamb is on the menu, this can be a tricky dish to cook correctly and we learn how to marinate and prepare this dish, also served with this is a rich sauce made with red wine and tarragon that goes wonderfully with this meat.

 

Wednesday: Visit Narbonne and the Market, Cruise to Homps

(Cooking lesson: Preparation of Bourride.)

This morning, experience the wonderful covered market in Narbonne with the chef and help choose the ingredients for dinner tonight. The market is ablaze with colours, smells and sounds, it is a truly amazing sight. Narbonne is a lively Mediterranean city playing an important role as a wine-producing centre. The municipal, military and religious architecture, the river banks of the Robine and its shaded boulevards, all contribute to its charm. Enjoy lunch at a bistro just in front of the market, which specializes in local seafood fresh from the Mediterranean Sea, just a few miles away. Then return to the barge for an afternoon’s cruise to the port at Homps. Tonight, with the fish we purchased at the market we prepare the local delicacy – Bourride, this is a stunning dish made with fresh local vegetables and finished at the last minute with the addition of monkfish and mussels and served with a garlic mayonnaise.

Thursday: Visit Minerve, Cruise to Trebes
(Mediterranean cooking lesson.)

After breakfast, visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone cliff, which dominates the vineyards below. Its now ruined castle was once a Cathar stronghold besieged and captured by Simon de Montfort. This village is full of history of days gone by. On the way back to the boat stop at Peyriac-Minervois for a wine tasting. Return to the barge for lunch and then enjoy the ever changing views from the comfort of the deck or perhaps walk or cycle along the tow path. There is another cookery lesson planned this afternoon, using produce purchased from the market, we learn all about Mediterranean style cooking, with the emphasis on light fresh ingredients using olive oil, herbs and vegetables. Tonight we moor in the pretty town of Trebes.

Friday: Cruise to Carcassonne, Visit Carcassonne, Cassolet Lunch
(Cooking lesson: Fresh Pasta making.)

Finish the week with a tour of Europe’s largest medieval fortress – Carcassonne. Explore the intricate fortifications of the two castellated walls, one inside the other, about a mile in circumference. The views from the battlements towards the Pyrenées are stunning. Visit the Cathedral remarkable for its stained glass rose windows, elegant Romanesque nave and Gothic transepts. Carcassonne is famous for the dish Casssolet, it is a casserole combining beans and sausages, we visit a restaurant in the old Cite and the chef explains how this dish is made and we stay here for lunch. Mean while the chef is busy preparing for your final cookery lesson, homemade pasta. Pasta is an amazing dish, very easy to prepare and so versatile, we prepare ravioli filled with some seafood, and then prepare a white wine reduction sauce, a scattering of baby vegetable and sprinkled with fresh dill - a perfect dish to finish the week with. There is a farewell gala dinner on board.

Saturday: Carcassonne

After breakfast disembark and transfer to the local train station.
(If you wish to make alternative transfer arrangements, please discuss your requirements at the time of booking.)

 

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Beziers to Carcassonne on the Canal du Midi

Sunday: Paris to Montpellier
Your departure from Paris from the Gare de Lyon via the TGV train will arrive at approximately 16:53 at the Montpellier train station where you will be met by the Alouette guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by mini-van to Béziers where you will board the barge for your cruise through the Canal du Midi.

A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard. Dinner will be served at 20:00. (The time for meals on board can be altered to suit the passenger's wishes).

Monday: Beziers to Capestang
Visit Béziers
After breakfast, you'll tour the lovely town of Béziers, the birth place of Pierre Paul Riquet who built the canal du Midi over 300 years ago. You will spend the morning discovering the many squares, pavement cafés, shopping and galleries Béziers has to offer. Not to be missed is the magnificent 13th century Cathedral. Tonight's mooring is the little port of Capestang.

Tuesday: Capestang to Le Somail
Visit Narbonne
Up bright and early to experience the wonderful under cover market in Narbonne, a lively Mediterranean city playing an important role as a wine producing centre. It's municipal, military and religious architecture, the treasures in its museums, the charm of the river banks of the Robine and its shaded boulevards all contribute to its charm. Back to the barge for another scrumptious lunch and a cruise to tonight's mooring in Le Somail.

Wednesday: Le Somail to Homps
Visit Minerve
After breakfast, relax on deck and watch the passing scenery. After lunch, you will visit the superb 11th century Cistercian Abbey de Fontfroide, with its noble cloister and a peaceful garden lined with cypress trees, followed by a wine tasting in the wild limestone hills of the Corbières.

Thursday: Homps to Trebes
Visit Abbey de Fontfroide.
Cycle or walk along the towpaths, take in the grandeur and beauty of the Canal du Midi, with its impressively fine locks, buildings and aqueducts, scarcely changed from their completion over 300 years ago. After a scrumptious lunch, visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone cliff, which dominates the vineyards below. Its now ruined castle was once a Cathar stronghold, besieged and captured by Simon de Montfort. On our descent back to the barge, we will stop and taste some wine in the Minervois.

Friday: Trebes to Carcassone
Visit Carcassonne.
Finish the week with a tour of Europe's largest medieval fortress - La Cité of Carcassonne. Admire the intricate fortifications of the two castellated walls, one inside the other, about a mile in circumference. The views from the battlements towards the Pyrenées are stunning. Visit the Cathedral, over-restored in places, but remarkable for its stained glass rose windows, fine statues, elegant Romanesque nave and Gothic transepts. Back on board the chef is preparing a memorable feast for your farewell dinner. Bon appetit.

Saturday: Return to Paris
Disembark the Alouette
After breakfast you will disembark the Alouette, board the van for the last time for the drive to Toulouse train station and return to Paris on the TGV, arriving at the Gare de Monparnasse at approximately 14:20 where you will be met by our Afloat in France representative who will assist you with your baggage.

Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks. Contact The Barge Lady for reservations and more information about Cruises on the hotel-barge Alouette and barging the Canal du Midi Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

Alouette

Guest Book

"Very hard working team, charming experience"

"It was perfect!"

Alouette Floor Plan

98 Feet Long

The interior was entirely re-built in 2008.
Suite 1 - 270 square feet
Suite 2 - 205 square feet
Satellite TV, DVD and intercom in the cabins
Open "Demonstration Kitchen"