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WELCOME ABOARD BEATRICEHotel Barge Beatrice cruises on the Canal du Midi |
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Barge holidays on the Canal du Midi
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Hotel Barge BeatricePort Cassafières34420 PORTIRAGNES Plage GPS POSITION : Longitude 3° 22' 22.95 EST / Latitude 43° 17' 33.93 NORD |
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Cruises on the "Canal du Midi" in the South of France, between Beziers and Carcassonne in the Languedoc and visit the castles road of the Pays Cathar Carcassonne and Minerve or Fontfroide Abbey |
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Discover boating holidays on the Canal du Midi and experience a barge cruise through the french canals
Barge private charters relaxing holidays on french waterways |
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Minerve
Cathar village |
Carcassonne |
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THE
ACCOMMODATION |
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The
second cabin has two single beds and it's own adjacent bathroom with hand
basin, shower and toilet. |
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OUR
CRUISE route takes us through the villages of Colombiers, Poilhès, Capestang, Le Somail, Ventenac, Argens in Minervois, Homps. The castles route of the Pays Cathare offers a visit to the heart of the history of the cathars and many impressive monuments. Beatrice - as all the barges of the canal - will cruise at between 4 and 6 Km/hour depending on the meanders of the Canal and the traffic. Our objective is that you spend between 4 and 5 hours a day cruising. |
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Cathar city of Minerve |
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Cathar
city of Minerve |
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Fontfroide Abbey | |||||||||||||
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HIGHLIGHTS With a unique combination of French and Sicilian cuisine and wine, this barge, with a flexible itinerary, has been operating with great success for 15 years. Aboard the Hotel Barge Beatrice you will be charmed by the gentle tranquillity of the Canal du Midi. Jean François and Michel bring their extensive experience in hospitality and piloting from their years on luxury barges, to make your week cruising on Beatrice the perfect holiday. Hotel barge Beatrice is privately owned and operated by Jean François and Michel, both highly experienced and talented hosts. You will be warmly welcomed and your needs and interests will be ably met throughout your vacation aboard. |
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Etang
de Montady |
13th
century cathedral of St Etienne at Capestang |
Tunnel
of Malpas |
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Sample Itinerary Canal du Midi Portiragnes - Homps or reverse Day
1 : Monday 14:00 Portiragnes Lock Day
2 : Tuesday Day
3 : Wednesday Day
4 : Thursday Day
5 : Friday Day
6 : Saturday |
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![]() The sundeck ![]() |
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The
old inn of Le Somail |
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The
7 locks of Fonseranne |
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Le
Somail |
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Beatrice
passing through the locks |
The
pont canal |
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Panoramic
views from the sun deck in a field full of horses |
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Jung, our
dalmatian at work |
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The
owners, Michel and Jean-Francois welcome you |
The
Tunnel du Malpas |
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Access
by
road : Motorway A7 and A9 from
Paris, Lyon, Avignon, Montpellier: Exit n° 35 “Béziers
Est” |
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The
light of the Canal du Midi
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Special
atmosphere of the Canal |
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Old
bridge area of the old hamlet of Le Somail |
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The
old hamlet of Le Somail |
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Fonserannes
7 locks canal is a lock system which allow the barge to be raised a height
of 21,5 m |
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Visiting
the original Farmers Market in Capestang, so fresh, so many colors and
smells. |
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If
you want character and history with a touch of ancient atmosphere this
is the place for you. |
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Guest's
comments
Herman & Veronique - Holland Dear Michel and Jean François, thank you so much for the wonderful days we enjoyed on board of your barge Beatrice in the company of Jung the dalmatian. It was an unforgettable experience sailing on le Canal du Midi with the beautiful landscapes, the locks, the wonderful sicilien and french cuisine on board and your great hearted company ! thank you for the map on which Jean François indicated all the nice and interesting sites ! we felt at home with you. We both liked to navigate and thank you for the good instructions. All the best for you and good luck. Scott & Judy - Sydney ( Australia ) Dear Jean François and Michel, merci beaucoup for these wonderful relaxing days on Beatrice. It was a great way to spend on 30th wedding anniversary. As novices to barging your hospitality, meals, captaincy all helped to make this a very enjoyable time. You both provide the right mix of cruising to see the surrounding countryside, explore local villages and markets. We are now definitely fars of barging the french canals. A bientôt. Stephen & Debbie - Seattle ( USA ) What a wonderful week this has been. Coming to know the beauty that is the Canal du Midi, its simplicity ever changing face you've thaught us much of life in southern France of its people, its customs, its marvelous food. A unique ospitality. You both are not only gentle souls but wonderful spirits - each in your way - together. You make new adventures come to life. The seven month wait for this celebratory cruise was worth every moment of anticipation. We will remember this week. You both for many years to come. Jo & Michael - Brighton ( Australia ) Dear Michel, Jean François and Jung, le bateau Beatrice is a beautiful boat but to Jo and I it was much more as you immediately welcomed us into your home. For several years we have wanted experience the french locks and canals and how lucky we were to select team Beatrice. Your easy going and relaxed manner quickly had us enjoying the tranquil pace of le canal du midi from day one. We marvelled at Jean François masterly navigation and ably supported by Michel. Both Michel's and Jean François cuisine always 5 stars, and together you made sure our time on board would be so memorable. Our day excursions with Gwen were both informative and interesting and gave us a good overview of the early history of the region. Thank you both once again for sharing your life and home with us - we could not ask more. Merci beaucoup. Jim & Tina - United Kindom Dear Jean François, Michel and Jung, we can sum up our holiday with you in one word: delightful ! delightful food, accomodation, hosts, scenery, weather. Above all delightfully relaxing and enjoyable. We wish you all the best for your seasons. Very many thanks from us both. Roswitha & Kinley - Switzerland This time it was our second time on board Beatrice and like last year we enjoyed so much to stay here. We would like to visit every year ! we will follow your dreams because you two are so special to us. Michel we will never forget your delicious cuisine menus and service. Jean François we will never forget your humor and hospitality. We felt really at home and all our wishes are with you and your future dreams. Thank you so much. Nadia & Evgeny - Russia Dear Jean François and Michel or dear friends ! it was a great voyage for us with fabulous cuisine. You have a very beautiful and comfortable barge. We felt at home and we were impressed by your friendliness. We are so thankful that you made the best for us so that we had the most interesting tour. We will remember for a long time. Thank you Michel and Jean François that you remain the genuine representatives of your cultures and of your countries and share with your guests. From Russia with love. Robert & Kathe - Los Angeles Dear Jean François and Michel and Jung, thank you so very much for the most wonderful experience. We are so glad we came aboard Beatrice and so very appreciative with most fantastic hospitality. The beauty, cruising, the meals ( oh là là !!! ), the culture. Never have we been so relaxed ! we will never forget ...please stay in touch. All the best. Russell & Elisabeth - New Zealand Very pleasurable cruise with Jean François and Michel. Quiet and relaxing, superb food and great company. An experience that all should enjoy. Fiona - United Kindom What a beautiful holiday! Beatrice was so welcoming, warm and so clean and comfortable. Michel and Jean François are the perfect hosts. The food was absolutely fantastic. I particulary enjoyed the outings to Carcassonne with the most amazing cassoulet. Thank you so very much. I can't wait to return. A bientôt. Roma & Philip - New Zealand Michel and Jean François our love and best wishes to you and Beatrice for the future. You have given us an unforgettable holiday on the Canal du Midi. One day we would love to return. Thank you so much for your hospitality and for all of your care and attention. Sylvette & Donald - Panama A wonderful cruise. A delightful way to spend one week on board Beatrice. Beautiful crewed boat and of course " Jung " is every one's best friend. Hope to see you again. Monique & Anthony - California Dear Jean François and Michel, we thank you both for giving us a magnificent and most memorable vacation on board Beatrice. Your attention to our well-being, your superb cuisine, your delightful conversation and your navigation - all those and so much more give us a wonderful experience and a stock of delightful memories. We cannot imagine a better tour of the Canal du Midi but the highlights of the trip were your kindness and your generosity. You are the perfect pair to show people this uniquely beautiful waterways and its surrounding landscape. Merci beaucoup and au revoir. Anne & John - United Kindom Dear Jean François and Michel, of all our boat trips on Beatrice has been the most memorable. Your excellent hospitality on this beautiful boat through the peaceful countryside, has given us a great holiday. The meals - what can we say ! Superb, delicious, beautifully presented. This week have given us a great experience of the Canal du Midi, your attention and kindness have made it unforgetable. Aussi Jung il est grand ! Merci bien and au revoir. Esther & Alexandre - California Chers Jean François and Michel, our trip with you was more wonderful than we could have imagined. You are wonderful hosts - you made us feel so at home, le bateau Beatrice is so comfortable, has a good variety of spaces, the meals very magnificent and of course the Canal du Midi is so beautiful and we loved the slow pace of the barge, the quiet, peaceful moorings. Thank you for being so attentive to our needs and giving us an unforgettable experience. John & Tina - Michigan Dear Jean François and Michel, this was our first trip on the Midi Canal and an excellent introduction to traveling by barge, especially our new knowledge of the canal and the surrounding region ! you are both most professional in all aspects of péniche Beatrice and we are so fortunate to have share these past six days with you both. Merci beaucoup. Alison and Billy - Scotland Jean François, Michel and Jung, your Beatrice is so charming. Good food, good company, lovely weather. Adventures on the canal, with food and wine, and visits to Minerve and Carcassonne with Gwen were very informative. We will recommend you. Thank you.
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