Informal exclusive voyages of discovery in 2025 and 2026 be one of only 20 guests per year

​​ITINERARY
 
Travelling on the Barge Matilda will allow you to truly experience France, whether you are on board, cycling throughout the countryside or just relaxing as you enjoy the sites and experience each stop provides along the way. Stops vary from mooring in towns and villages to treasures only reachable by boat. The adventure is one not to be missed
Matilda travels leisurely throughout the beautiful canals of France.
Travelling at a relaxed six kilometres an hour, there is every opportunity to fully immerse yourself into the scenery and ambiance of France and the Barge Matilda.
 
We begin travelling mostly in the morning, cruising throughout the day, generally arriving at our next stop early afternoon to provide plenty of opportunities for enjoying the land as well as the water. Leisurely walking or cycling provides you access to experience all the local sites.  There are even opportunities to walk/cycle and re board Matilda at a different location to where you got off.   
As you start to fall in love with the beautiful areas’ we visit you may wish to make some changes to the itinerary.   Bruce will consider any requests to change the route and timing with the end location in mind.
Travelling on the Barge Matilda is not just for seeing France, it is for experiencing France. The canals and places we visit showcase French history including the canals that had been used as trading routes for centuries.
 
It is the tranquil, relaxing and rejuvenating experience of travelling at a leisurely pace, soaking up fresh air, beautiful sights and tasting delicious cuisine, that the experience of the Barge Matilda is all about.

2025 May near Sete-Toulouse

​A typical week itinerary.

Arriving Friday ,after 2pm a short walk from the station.
The city of Beziers which dates back to dates from 575 BCE,  will welcome you where you can make your way a short distance from the railway station to the port of Beziers ,Quai du Port Neuf and Matilda.
 

After arrival and a glass of Champagne, you can take an opportunity to dine out, During the week barge timing doesn’t always allow a lunch at the many local restaurants and of course there is always a Sunday and Monday closures to be prepared for in rural France.
 
Saturday after some final provisioning at hopefully a Saturday morning market we depart for Colombiers, the first part of the day will be the Fonseranes locks which can take some time as there are 7 active locks in a staircase with lots of spectators and action. This could take a couple of hours , after which the remainer of the days cruise, winds through the countryside of the Occitane region. Just past the township of Colombiers is the Oppidum D’Enserune, a most interesting museum and history of the Roman settlement in the area. Plan a few hours for the walk (or ride) up to the settlement and museum.
Overnight mooring will be near the tunnel Le Malpas and Oppidum ,a meal onboard is recommended.
Sunday we continue after breakfast on board and settling off at 9am (or around lunch should you wish to see the Oppidum if not done Saturday). The canal passes the village of Poilhes on our way to Capestang where there is a lively restaurant quai side, which may be open for lunch if we are early enough. There are also the bikes which you could easily ride the 10km to Capestang. There will also be a few hire boats about as the hire base is nearby.
Overnight in Capestang.
Monday once again settling off around 9am after breakfast, some light pasties and cereals with tea coffee provided daily. With a good wind behind us we will be in le Somail for lunch , when even on Mondays (in the past) two quai side restaurants offer traditional French food and good service, local wines.
Later in the afternoon a slow cruise past Paraza and Roubia will be in order and possibly to moor canal side for a BBQ or similar, Monday night in Argens-Minervois
 
Tuesday we can depart at will in the morning from Argens-Minervois you can spend the day here in Argens-Minervois if you wish as long as you take the bike option and catch the barge on its journey, quite a simple task as Matilda, makes about 5kmph you can easily catch her on a bike.
 
It will be one of the longest days today , about 5 hours cruising and the likely places to stop for the evening will be La Redorte or Marseillette.
 
Wednesday will be the last day cruising and depending on where we moor the night before the village of Trebes offers great food choices for lunch. Then a 4-hour trip so Wednesday night arriving in Carcassonne.
 
Thursday 8th May the station will be just a hundred or so meters from the mooring and if you have time a visit to the Carcassonne fortress is recommended.

2025 Aug Sept near Toulouse Moisac

to come

Matilda

© Copyright 2018, Matilda Ltd. All rights reserved.