Carcassonne & the Canal du Midi

To Carcassonne

We meet at our exclusive Departure Office at St Pancras International in London, where we board the Eurostar for Paris. We continue to Narbonne, where we take a coach to Carcassonne, checking into our hotel, the 5-Star Hotel de la Cité Carcassonne MGallery Collection.

Exploring Carcassonne

We explore the incredible Cité of Carcassone on a guided tour today. Carcassonne is renowned for its impenetrable city walls, which still encircle the citadel entirely, defensive towers, and drawbridges - all original features, and which have led to the city being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Accessed by an ancient bridge which crosses the former moat, the Cité is the archetypal icon of romantic medieval France.

Our tour today covers the key sights, attractions and monuments of the Cité. We visit the towering Basilica of St Nazaire, modelled after St Denis cathedral in Paris as a symbol of the Crown's victory over the south. The Basilica as we see it today was completed in 1330, although certain elements of the cathedral predate the fourteenth century. We also take in the impressive Château Comtal, an incredibly well-preserved fortress which dominates the Cité. The rest of your day is at leisure. You can remain in the Cité and discover the network of cobbled lanes and sloping pathways adorning the citadel, or take in one of the museums or art galleries. Across the water, Bastide St Louis, which despite its status as the 'New Town' was actually established in the fourteenth century and also boasts many hidden charms. This town is essentially where the people of Carcassonne live and represents an excellent opportunity to watch the pace of French life in this region, perhaps you'd like to settle down in a quaint café and people watch.

Toulouse

This morning we travel by rail (Standard Class) to the handsome city of Toulouse. Known as the 'Ville Rose', or 'Pink City' due to its red and dark blush brick architecture, Toulouse is a pleasure to explore, and we do so on a guided walking tour of the medieval city, taking us along the winding, narrow streets of the elegant Old Town, seeing the Capitole (Town Hall) building in the vast, open Place du Capitole one of France's finest squares. We also see the Basilica St-Sernin, an 11th century church regarded as a Romanesque masterpiece, as well as the extraordinary architecture of the Jacobins Convent and the Renaissance Bernuy private mansion. Your afternoon is free, and there are many options open to you. Perhaps you'd like to visit the excellent Musee de Augustins de Toulouse. This fine arts museum houses a collection of sculptures and paintings from the medieval period through to the early 20th century. The convent was eventually secularised in 1793 and subsequently opened to the public in 1795, making it one of the oldest museums in France. Another suggestion would be the interesting Muséum de Toulouse, a museum of natural history that contains over 2.5 million items. Opened to the public in 1825 this museum was the first in the world to open a gallery of prehistory. The museum is also home to the Henri Gaussen Botanical Garden, the garden spans 7 hectares containing thousands of different varieties of plants. Tonight, back in Carcassone, we enjoy a traditional cassoulet dinner. This celebrated dish is made with pork and duck then cooked with haricots beans.

Cathar Castles

Travelling by coach, our first stop today is one of Languedoc's most famous sites, the historic Châteaux de Lastours area. Set in the heart of the Cathar countryside, this is a region famous for its fascinating web of sun-drenched fields, luscious vineyards, and rugged hills dotted with tranquil villages - crowned by its wealth of scattered Roman ruins, medieval castles and fortified strongholds. It is also home to a collection of four former Cathar fortresses, magnificent chateaux that are seemingly impossibly perched atop, and built into the hillsides, that were once a significant place of refuge for the Cathars during the religious crusades of the thirteenth century. This is followed by lunch before we continue east through the scenic countryside to the enchanting village of Caunes-Minervois and its remarkably well-preserved eighth-century abbey.

Mirepoix Market

This morning we travel by coach to Mirepoix for the town's weekly market. Located in the Old Town's medieval square, here you can sample and purchase fresh, local produce as well as home-made crafts and wine.

The Canal du Midi

Today we enjoy a leisurely cruise along the famous Canal du Midi, a true feat of engineering designed by Languedoc's own Pierre-Paul Riquet from Béziers. The canal is a particularly scenic waterway framed by rows of trees and makes for a serene cruise. At times it almost feels like you are sailing on a waterway through a forest. Such is the extent of foliage on offer, the trees create a 'tunnel' in places and the banks are usually frequented by avid walkers. Our meal tonight is taken in a restaurant situated in the grounds of Château de Pennautier and is accompanied by a wine tasting of vintages produced in the castle's own vineyards. Nicknamed 'the Versailles of Languedoc', this opulent residence was built in 1620 and once played host to King Louis XIII himself.

Homeward bound

Checking out after breakfast this morning, we transfer to the station for the train to Narbonne. Here we change for the high-speed service to Paris, boarding the Eurostar service for our return journey back to London.