We never had a chance to even explore La Bastide St. Louis, the area of Carcassone we walked through on the way to the walled Citadel, built in 1247 and considered “New.” La Cite was the center of crusades against the heretics in the 13th century and after the towns surrounding La Cite were destroyed during battles, Saint Louis authorized the building of La Bastide on the left side of the river Aude. In this area are mansions, a covered market, gardens and walking paths along the Aude River (saw people fishing) and chapels. I would really like to revisit Carcassonne and spend some time exploring La Bastide and perhaps walk along the tow paths.

The beautiful Canal du Midi was constructed in 1810 and has been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List…View image. Moor your leisure craft in Carcassonne or take a boat trip from April to October. The Canal du Midi runs for 240 kms/150 miles and is filled by a complicated system of feeder canals and reservoirs. A number of the 350 bridges, locks, aqueducts and overflow outlets haven’t been altered since they were constructed over 300 years ago.

By the way, you can rent a canal boat and cruise gently down many canals in France on vacation. One can pilot while the other walks, runs, or bicycles on the tow paths along the entire route. You can also travel on a “barge cruise” and there are many operators in France who specialize in this. Go with a scheduled group, hire your own barge (they usually hold from 6-12 passengers) and fill it with family and friends, or pilot it yourself. ex-Marine and I took a group barge trip down the Canal du Nivernais, in Burgandy. It carried bicycles to use on the tow paths, stopped in little towns, visited wineries and chateaus, had a great chef and was a wonderful, relaxing trip. The boats usually don’t go more than 10 miles a day. Think about one…

the Canal du Midi, France, photographer, Philippe Benoist
Carcassonne’s harbor offers the following for canal boat touring. Stop overnight, or for a few days, and use the landing stages with water and electricity, private bathrooms with showers, washing machines and dryers. Located right in the thick of all the action, the harbor is also watched by the Harbor Master’s Office during the day, and a Security Company at night. Check out a few of these links if interested: Midicanal; South France; and France Cruises.

Canal du Midi Harbor, photographer, Philippe Benoist, France
Carcassonne is also the commercial center of the Aude wine-growing industry, certainly evidenced by vineyards as far as the eye could see on the train journey and, really, in the entire area visited on this trip. Around Collioure, Banyuls, Narbonne, Perpignan…grapevine after grapevine.

vineyards just beginning to leaf out in the Aude area of France
For walkers/ramblers, there is the Sentier Cathare or Cathar Trail that extends 200 kms/124 miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pyrenees. There are variants that will take you through Citadels built on rocky peaks, hills, rolling gullies, lagoons (home to migratory birds), pilgrim trails (including one of the many paths to Santiago de Compostela)…

La Cite Citadel, Carcassonne, France
So much to do and I haven’t even covered half of the sights. Visit, and see for yourself.