Map of Location
About the location: Traverse southwest France's famous Languedoc region from
Béziers to Carcassonne (or vice versa), a trip of about 100 kilometers, aboard a luxury barge
on the famed Canal du Midi.
The Canal du Midi was built in the 17th century and was an engineering
marvel for its time. Now a World Heritage Site, highlights of this area
include Carcassonne, the most complete medieval fortified city in
existence.
You will cruise the Canal du Midi on board
the luxury barge "Alouette," which was built in 1908 in
the Netherlands, was converted into a luxurious passenger-carrying
barge in the mid-80's, and in 2008 underwent a complete refurbishing.
It is 30.48 meters in length and
4.85 meters beam, small enough to
navigate the wondeful Canal du Midi and large enough to comfortably house a group of 4.
The Alouette has two well-appointed cabins
located well above the water line. The state rooms both have en suite baths with shower.
The Alouette's sun-deck provides the perfect
place to relax and enjoy the passing scenery while cruising through the
renowned Canal du Midi.
About the cooking lessons:
Your cooking classes will be on board the Alouette with your private chef.
Guests will be taught basic knife skills,
food handling and the importance of presentation of the dishes prepared as you delve into the
regional cuisine along the Canal du Midi.
A sample itinerary follows, but the week can be tailored to fit the desires of the individual group.
Béziers to Carcassonne or Carcassonne to Béziers
Cooking Vacation Itinerary
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Day One, Sunday – Béziers
- Meet the barge in Béziers. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives
you a chance to meet the crew.
- You will have an
opportunity to talk with the chef and discuss your cooking interests and
what you will prepare during your week on board.
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Welcome dinner on board.
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Day Two, Monday – Cruise to Capestang;
Lunch preparation Quiche & Terrinel Tour
Oppidum d’Enserune. (Cooking lesson: Tarte au Citron and Caramel sauce.)
- A morning cruise along the beautiful Canal du Midi to Capestang. The
Canal is one of the most beautiful in all of France, with many locks, bridges
and tunnels.
- This morning you will have your first cooking lesson in the
well-equipped kitchen of the Alouette. Prepare lunch and
learn how to cook the classic French Quiche Lorriane and also a
country-style terrine, which is very popular in the area.
- In the
afternoon, visit Oppidum d’Enserune, a pre-Roman hill-top settlement and
one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. The top of
the hill affords a panoramic view of the pond of Montady, drained in 1247
and transformed into a curious pattern of cultivation.
- Return to the
barge and continue with the cooking lesson. This afternoon you will
prepare a wonderful lemon tart served with a drizzle of caramel sauce,
perfect for your dessert tonight following your dinner.
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Day Three, Tuesday – Cruise to Le Somail;
Prepare a Gazpacho summer soup; Visit
Abbaye de Fontfroide. (Cooking lesson: Rack of lamb and red wine and
tarragon sauce.)
- Enjoy a relaxing breakfast as you take in the grandeur
and beauty of the Canal du Midi, with its fine locks, buildings and
aqueducts, which have barely changed since their completion over 300 years ago.
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In the morning you can return to the kitchen to
prepare a summer soup—an avocado and cherry tomato gazpacho,
presented in a long tall glass for maximum effect!
- After lunch, visit
l’Abbaye de Fontfroide, a Cistercian monastery founded in the eleventh
century. Now privately owned, the abbey has been lovingly restored with
a well-kept garden and peaceful cloister.
- On the way back to the boat,
stop at Château Auris for a wine tasting.
- Tonight's dinner features rack of lamb.
It can be a tricky dish to cook correctly, and you will learn how
to marinate and prepare it, along with a rich sauce
made with red wine and tarragon that goes wonderfully with this meat.
- Dinner to follow.
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Day Four, Wednesday – Visit Narbonne and the market; Cruise to Homps.
(Cooking lesson: Preparation of Bourride.)
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This morning, experience the
wonderful covered market in Narbonne with the chef and help choose tonight's dinner
ingredients. The market is alive with the colors,
scents and sounds of France—a truly amazing sight. Narbonne is a lively
Mediterranean city that plays an important role in wine production.
The municipal, military and religious architecture, the banks of
the Robine river, and the shaded boulevards all contribute to its charm.
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Enjoy lunch at a bistro just in front of the market, which specializes
in local seafood fresh from the nearby Mediterranean Sea.
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Return to the barge for an afternoon’s cruise to the port at
Homps. Tonight, prepare the
local delicacy—Bourride—with the fish purchased at the market.
Bourride is a stunning dish made with fresh local
vegetables and finished at the last minute with the addition of monkfish
and mussels and served with a garlic mayonnaise.
- Dinner to follow.
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Day Five, Thursday – Visit Minerve; Cruise to Trebes. (Mediterranean cooking
lesson.)
- After breakfast, visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone
cliff, which dominates the vineyards below. The castle ruins were
once a Cathar stronghold besieged and captured by Simon de Montfort.
This village is full of the history of days gone by.
- On the way back to the
boat, stop at Peyriac-Minervois for a wine tasting.
- After the wine tasting, return to the barge
for lunch and enjoy the ever changing views from the comfort of the
deck, or you may decide to walk or cycle along the tow path.
- There is another
cooking lesson scheduled for the afternoon utilizing the produce purchased from the
market. You will learn all about Mediterranean-style cooking, with an
emphasis on fresh, light ingredients using olive oil, herbs and
vegetables.
- Dinner to follow.
- Tonight, moor in the pretty town of Trebes.
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Day Six, Friday – Cruise to Carcassonne; Visit Carcassonne; Cassolet lunch.
(Cooking lesson: Fresh Pasta making.)
- End the week with a tour of
Europe’s largest medieval fortress – Carcassonne. Explore the intricate
fortifications of the two castellated walls, one inside the other, extending about
a mile in circumference. The views from the battlements towards the
Pyrenées are absolutely stunning.
- Next, visit the Cathedral, known for its stained
glass rose windows, elegant Romanesque nave and Gothic transepts.
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Carcassonne is famous for Casssolet, a casserole
combining beans and sausages. You will visit a restaurant in the old Cite where
the chef will explain how this dish is made before you enjoy lunch at the restaurant.
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Meanwhile, the chef on board will prepare your final cooking lesson, featuring
homemade pasta. Pasta is an amazing dish, versatile and easy to prepare.
You will make ravioli filled with seafood, topped with
a white wine reduction sauce, a scattering of baby vegetable and
sprinkled with fresh dill — a perfect dish with which to finish the week.
- Farewell gala dinner on board.
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Day Seven, Saturday – Carcassonne.
- After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the
Carcassonne train station. (If you wish to make alternative transfer
arrangements, please discuss your requirements at the time of booking.)
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US$25,000, all inclusive for 4 people
This program requires a deposit of US$1500 per person.
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Available any week Sunday to Saturday from April through October. (Note that every other week will start in Béziers
and end in Carcassonne, and the others will start in Carcassonne and end in Béziers.
Please inquire for details about specific dates.)
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- 6 nights accommodation on board your péniche-hôtel
- Breakfast, lunch and candlelit dinner each day
- Cooking lessons as per itinerary
- Refreshments on board after excursions
- Wine with meals, liqueurs and bar drinks on board
- Sightseeing excursions, including entrance fees
- Use of bicycles
- Air-conditioned mini-van with driver for sightseeing
- All transfers for your visits and excursions
Gratuities and insurance are not included.
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Cooking Vacations 
Included in the cooking vacation:
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