France settlement and a route once marched by the legionnaires . The Romans also planted the local vineyards , a snippet which whets our appetite for another degustation .
Celebrity chef Rick Stein loved his meanderings on Anjodi but we doubt that his camera crew ate or drank better than we do with our chef Lauren . A typical lunch features magret de canard , heretically eaten while communing with contented canal ducks . Closer to the sea , seafood platters make an entrance , with the freshest oysters slurped in full view of the oyster beds , washed down with a mean rosé from Faugeres . From spicy red Corbieres to quaffable Cotes du Roussillon , Captain Julian is an enthusiastic expert on Languedoc ’ s vine-clad hills . Near Beziers , we enjoy a private tasting at Chateau Perdiguier , an historic wine estate belonging to the Captain ’ s friends . We learn how the `disk ’ of a wine reveals its age - and look for notes of spice , cassis and burnt tobacco - before definitely showing our age under the lamplight .
Near Portiragnes , we leave the vineyards and edge into the Camargue , more properly the `Petite Camargue ’ wetlands . This wilderness is home to hawks and harriers , owls and buzzards , herons and pink flamingos . We don ’ t see the trident-wielding Camargue cowboys herding bulls as the sun sets , but we are far from disappointed . The remoteness brings out our Captain ’ s cowboy spirit : “ You are allowed a `wild mooring ’ if you get here first , but interlopers can be persuaded to
GoBarging
Barging on the Canal du Midi : European Waterways offers a choice of spring / summer itineraries on their hotel barges in the lovely Canal du Midi area . Select the 8-passenger Anjodi cruises from Le Somail to Marseillan or vice versa , as described . Alternatively , try the 8-passenger Enchanté from Salleles d ’ Aude to Puicheric or the Clair de Lune , a 6-passenger barge ( new to the fleet ), which cruises from Le Somail to Carcassonne .
All-inclusive cruising prices for Canal du Midi , 6-night , allinclusive cruises aboard Anjodi start from £ 2,385pp , including a 10 % discount on spring sailings .
What ’ s included luxury barge accommodation in air-conditioned , ensuite cabins ; all gourmet meals on board , including fine wines and an open bar . Also included are daily escorted shore excursions , local transfers and the use of all barge facilities , such as bicycles and spa pools .
For further information , contact : European Waterways : www . gobarging . com , tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 1753 598555 ; sales @ gobarging . com Flights to Montpellier : EasyJet operates flights to Montpellier from Luton and Gatwick Airports . See : www . easyjet . com Tourism : Languedoc Roussillon ( region embracing Canal du Midi ): www . en . sunfrance . com . Canal du Midi : www . canal-du-midi . org Carcassonne tourist board : www . carcassonne-tourisme . com Montpellier tourist board : www . ot-montpellier . fr , tel . (+ 33 ) 0467999674 Kayaking in Montpellier : www . montpellier-canoe-kayak . com Barging further afield : European Waterways is Europe ’ s largest allinclusive luxury hotel barging company , offering vacations in nine countries . The well-established company designs , builds , owns and operates a private fleet of luxury hotel barges with cruises in France , Italy , Scotland , Ireland , England , Germany , Belgium , Holland and Luxembourg . This is also the only company offering barge cruises on the Venetian lagoon and the River Po .
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