Alouette

A transfer agent will meet your party at late morning in the lobby of your Paris hotel, chauffeur you to the Paris Gare de Lyon Train Station, and provide First Class tickets on a mid-day TGV train to the Canal du Midi. As you alight, Alouette crew will be waiting on the platform. From here, you will be driven to Alouette moored in the charming village of Columbieres, just outside Beziers. A traditional champagne welcome and introduction to the rest of the crew awaits you, before your first gourmet dinner onboard.

This morning, a guided visit to the l'Abbaye de Fontfroide reveals a Cistercian monastery founded in the 11th century. Now privately owned, the abbey has been meticulously restored with a colorful garden and peaceful cloister. Your Tour Guide returns you to the barge for a lazy afternoon cruise. Take a leisurely bicycle ride on the towpath, or sip a glass of wine on deck and admire the rustic scenery slip by. Or, join Chef in the galley for a private cooking demonstration. Cocktails and dinner culminate the day.

The day begins with a visit to Oppidum d'Enserune, a pre-Roman hilltop settlement. 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. Next, enjoy a special winetasting at a local vineyard. Your Tour Guide will return you to the barge for an afternoon cruise. Relax on deck and treasure the bucolic landscape, or explore the towpath with a gentle pedal or leisurely stroll. Chef presents another gourmet dinner onboard.

The morning begins with a visit to the town of Narbonne, a regional capital established in 118 BCE as a Roman colony. Here you will visit the market to help Chef select the ingredients for this evening's dinner. Mingle with the locals as you explore vendors of seasonal produce, handmade cheese, and artisanal breads. After lunch ashore at a local bistro, your Tour Guide chauffeurs you back to the barge for an unhurried afternoon cruise. Cocktails and canapes on deck precedes tonight’s dinner.

In the morning your Tour Guide escorts you to Minerve, a preserved Medieval city with fascinating social, historical, and military import. After your visit, you will sip, swirl, and savor locally produced vintages at a private winetasting. Back onboard, a lazy afternoon cruise provides the perfect opportunity to laze on deck and admire the countryside, or explore the towpath with a gentle pedal or leisurely stroll. Alternatively, Chef would love some company in the galley where you can preview tonight’s gourmet dinner.

This day begins with a visit to Carcassonne, a fortified Medieval fortress with a walled city. Your Tour Guide will escort you through the ancient castle and preserved ramparts to admire the mighty 53 Roman towers. Stroll the cobblestone boulevards into local cafes and specialty boutiques. Back onboard, this afternoon's cruise is the perfect time to laze on deck, or explore the tree-shaded towpath by bicycle or on foot. Freshen up for tonight's Captain's Dinner, culminating your Canal du Midi cruise in style.

After breakfast, you will be chauffeured to the closest train station for your return trip to Paris. You will be provided with First Class tickets for a morning train, arriving mid-day at the Paris Gare de Lyon Train Station. As you alight, a representative of the Alouette will be waiting on the platform and will help you and your luggage to the taxi line or to a pre-arranged private transfer to your next destination. The services of the Alouette end at the Gare de Lyon.