Eco Barge Holiday on the Canal Du Midi, France
Self-Catering 6 birth barge holidays on an idyllic mooring among the vineyards near the Pyrenees with the option of the barge sailing while you walk, cycle or kayak on ahead along the tree lined Canal Du Midi towards Beziers, Narbonne or Carcassonne
Please quote greentraveller when you book
Singles from €150 per week, Couples €250 and Groups €500 + €200 per day per group optional barge saiing supplement + Travel to/from France
There are terraces in the bow, stern and above the main cabin. The wheelhouse has bunk-bed seating, a wind turbine and five 140w solar panels on the roof. Below decks, there's a 25m2 lounge with a partitioned double sofabed , a wood burning stove, sat-tv and 3g internet. The marine toilet and solar heated rain water shower. The kitchen-diner has an eco fridge and a natural gas cooker. In the bow there are 2 twin bunk-bed cabins.
The permanent mooring, amongst the vineyards with views of the Black and Pyrenean mountains, is at the end of the 1/2 km track from the beautiful little village of Le Somail. 1km down the canal is the crystal clear River Cesse ideal for swimming and picnics. 5km further is the larger picturesque village of Salléles d'Aude of Labarinth fame.
Daytrips to Carcassonne Cité-45km, a Mediterranean surf beach 30km or a Cathar Castle-40km are popular as are Beziers Cathederal-35km and Narbonne Market (thu/sun)-17km along the canal.
How does EcoBarge Canal Du Midi minimise its impact on the environment and contribute to a sense of place?
Five 140w photo-voltaic solar panels and a 1kw windturbine to charge the 24v and 12v banks of batteries, the pumps and led lighting system use the 24v, while small appliances such as the computer, television, and mobile phone are charged by 12v. The cooker and the fridge run off bottled gas when there's not enough solar power. The wood burning stove is used for heat and cooking for which neighbours and farmers often drop off wood and leaving the fields fallow, so wood collection is not an issue.
Bulk bio shampoo and other washing liquids are used to minimize landfill waste. All materials such as plastics, paper, and glass are separated and recycled. Food waste is taken to a local pig farmer. A marine toilet is in use hand pumping canal water. Over the last 300 years the canal ecology has evolved to deal with human waste effectively. There's a 2000L sweet water tank filled up from the village every few months for cooking and after being filtered, drinking. Canal water is filtered and sun heated for washing and showering which is supplemented with channelled rain water falling on to the 50m2 convex terrace (cabin roof).
Guests are encouraged to contribute to improving the barge's green credentials and those with ideas adopted will get their name on a green plaque on the barge. When fit guests of up to 3 arrive at Narbonne train station during daylight, the host meets guests on bike with guests’ bikes on the trailer and then it’s a 17km cycle back to the barge along the canal with baggage on the trailer. These efforts help minimise the impact that guests have on the local area including the stunning landscapes and biodiversity of nearby Cévennes National Park.
Top eco features at Eco Barge Holidays
Self sufficient as it utilises a wind turbine & solar panels
Has wood burning stove & bio-oil fired heating
Solar-heated rainwater shower
Location
via Carcassonne
Directions from station:
I can meet guests arriving at Narbonne train station with up to 3 bikes (then their baggage) on my trailer. We (including those bringing their own bikes) will then cycle back together, the 17km to the barge along the canal. Alternatively, there's a 1220, 1620 and 1820 mon-sat Narbonne-Le Somail bus or a €30 taxi. We don't rent bikes or kayaks but if you buy one of ours at face value e.g. €100, we'll buy it back for the same amount if it's been looked after, at the end of the week.
