All you need to know | Camping la Pinède

Dreaming of a barge vacation on the Canal du Midi? Here’s what you need to know to sail the “canal des deux mers” with your family and become your own captain on a day cruise, or longer!

Do I need a permit to rent a barge on the Canal du Midi?

Good news! If you’re planning to rent a boat, barge or houseboat with less than 6 horsepower (equivalent to 4.5 kW), you don’t need a license or any technical knowledge.

How much does it cost to rent a boat or barge?

The price of a Canal du Midi boat rental depends on the size of the boat, the number of passengers and the equipment available. For a day’s rental of a barge on the Canal du Midi, expect to pay between €90 (low season) and €200 (high season). The price of fuel is generally not included in the rental package. However, the cost of passing through the locks is included in the price when you book.

Navigation preparation

Before casting off, you’ll need to complete a mini pilot training course. For an hour or so, your rental agent will explain how the boat works, how to dock, how to pass through the locks, and the rules of courtesy, good behavior and cohabitation with other canal users.

What cruising speed?

The speed limit on the Canal du Midi is 8 km/h. In certain areas, when approaching bridges, ports and locks, as well as when passing or overtaking another boat, the speed limit is reduced to 3 km/h.

Navigation rules

Driving a boat without a license is relatively simple. Navigation takes place in the center of the canal. When crossing another boat, everyone pulls over to the right. If two boats are engaged at the same time in a part of the canal that is not wide enough to allow them to pass, the boat moving upstream must give way. The other has to step back. Finally, commercial boats always have priority.

GOOD TO KNOW: sailing is only permitted during the day. If you’re going away for several days, you’ll need to moor your barge overnight.

Lock passage

Although the exercise may seem confusing at first, passing through the locks on the Canal du Midi presents no insurmountable difficulties. Always maneuver at idle speed. If the doors are closed, pull over to the designated parking space and wait in neutral. It is customary to give priority to larger boats, which are less easy to maneuver.

Remember to check lock opening times, which are generally from 9am to 12:30pm and from 1:30pm to 5:30pm, until 7pm depending on the season and the number of visitors. These times are shown on the lock map given to you on departure.

Boat parking

Parking docks and river stops are provided. Some are free, while others are subject to a tourist tax. You can also stop wherever you like along the canal. For mooring, prefer the towpath side and use mooring stakes planted in the bank. It is forbidden to moor directly to trees or sign posts. It is also forbidden to park in certain areas, such as short reaches, under bridges or in the navigable channel. These locations are signposted.

What places to visit on the Canal du Midi?

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Canal du Midi connects the city of Toulouse to the Mediterranean on nearly 250 km of waterways, including 120 km in the l’Aude. In one day, you can easily cover between 20 and 30 km, at a rate of 5 to 6 hours’ cruising. You can navigate in either direction, or choose to make a loop. Whether you’re in Carcassonne, Trèbes or Castelnaudary, here are a few ideas for places to visit in Aude:

The 9 locks at Fonsérannes: on the way down to Béziers, this is one of the major sites on the Canal du Midi.
The town of Minerve: between the Canal du Midi and the Montagne Noire, the historic capital of the Minervois region overlooks the Cesse and Brian gorges , on the border with the Aude department.
Castelnaudary and its Grand Bassin: in the heart of the Lauragais region, drive through Castelnaudary towards Carcassonne and discover the Pont Neuf (18th century), the Pont Vieux (17th century) and the Saint-Roch quadruple lock.
Carcassonne Carcassonne: the medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ideal starting point for navigating the Canal du Midi to the port of Trèbes.
Le Port du Somail: to the South Minervois halfway between Carcassonne and Béziers, this 17th-century hamlet is a historic stopover on the Canal du Midi, on the way to the famous citadel of Carcassonne or via Narbonne .
Capestang: located on the “Grand Bief”, the former residence of the archbishops of Narbonne is a must-see stop on the Canal du Midi, with a 54 km route (without locks) from Argens-Minervois to Béziers.

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