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ITINERARY
Salleles d'Aude to Marseillan
(or reverse)
Sunday - SALLELES
D'AUDE - 4pm pick up at designated point in Montpellier
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You will be met by ATHOS Captain and Manager. In the comfort of ATHOS'
private air-conditioned Chrysler minivans, you will be
chauffeured to where the ATHOS awaits you at her moorings. The crew are waiting to welcome
you aboard, and to toast with Champagne and Mediterannean canapis.
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Once you are settled into your cabin, you will be
invited to a 4-course dinner, prepared by our highly acclaimed
onboard Chef.
Monday - Salleles
d'Aude -ARGELIERS
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Enjoy your first coffee of the day sitting in a
comfortable chair on the upper deck of ATHOS. While coffee is available at
any time from the bar, continental-style breakfast is served,
at your leisure, beginning at 8:30am.
The proposed morning visit is a drive to the famous Medieval double-walled city of Carcassonne. Your knowledgeable on-board guide, will offer the historical &
guided visit -- making sure that you have time to browse those
shops! While the Captain gets ATHOS underway for an afternoon's
cruise to Argeliers, Chef will serve up another local 3-course
gourmet meal (perhaps including the famous duck confit stew,
Cassoulet?)
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By early evening you have arrived in Argeliers, where
ATHOS' mooring is beside the picturesque Argeliers bridge. There ought to be enough
time for a brisk stroll into the village before Chef starts
serving up her next delight!
Tuesday - ARGELIERS
- CAPESTANG
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This morning's suggested visit is a tasting at the
Oulibo - the local olive oil pressoir. After tasting those organic
and wholesome olives (accompagnied, bien sur by a small glass
of rosi!!), a short drive up the Gorge de la Cesse and into the
hilltop village of Minerve is in order. Your guide will regale
you with the harrowing tale of the Cathar siege launched at Minerve during the 13th
century. A long lunch and an afternoon of relaxation await your
return to the ATHOS.
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We arrive early evening in the charming village of Capestang.
ATHOS will be moored with a clear view of the flood-lit
St. Etienne cathedral.
The village is a 5-minute walk -- and dinner will be
waiting on your return!
Wednesday - CAPESTANG
- FONSERANNES
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After breakfast, come along on a visit to the 6thC
establishment and archaeological site at the Oppidum d'Enserune
& amazing look-out and landscape of the Lac de
Montady. To maintain
your enthusiasm for local fare, you will be invited to a
wine-tasting at one of the few remaining traditional-method 19th C wineries. On
returning to ATHOS, a stylish al-fresco lunch awaits you (along
with more traditional, dry, fruity rosi!) The afternoon
promises spectacular views of the Pyrenees across the sunny, clear Plain.
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This evening's mooring is the breath-taking view-point
at the Fonserannes.
Perhaps a little cycle ride down to the staircase locks
and the Canal Bridge will work up your appetite for the
Chef's creations this evening?
Thursday - FONSERANNES
- VILLENEUVE LES BEZIERS
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Why not take a side-trip to the weekly morning market in
Narbonne? Even for
non-shoppers, Narbonne offers much entertainment on a
Thursday morning!
Explore an excavated portion of the original Roman road,
the Via Domitia, or,
browse through the well-compiled Roman Museum, or, discover the beauty of St. Juste Cathedral,
or, simply take a moment to blend into the scene: sit and relax in one of the many
cafis. As the Chef and the hostess begin serving up today's
luxury meal, Captain Julian and his deck hand are busy getting
ATHOS underway. This
17thC feat of engineering, the "Neuf Ecluses" (or staircase locks), is sure to
impress! ATHOS crew
expertly tie her up in each lock, and wait for the gates to
close safely
behind her before the water levels empty out and
allow her to pass one locks into the next. But it's not over yet! Coming
up next is the 18thC
Canal Bridge which will carry the ATHOS over the Orb River.
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The evening's mooring will be at the small village of Villeneuve les Beziers.
The paved tow path and the many locks leading to this
village make it an ideal afternoon for walking or cycling
alongside the ATHOS. Dinner
onboard
Friday - VILLENEUVE
les BEZIERS - AGDE - MARSEILLAN
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From the shaded and scenic mooring of Villeneuve, we get
underway earlier than usual to make it into the
Greek-established village of Agde before lunch. Discover Agde! This morning
will see bustling activity in the tiny centre ville. Take the opportunity to
explore the Old Town and the Romanesque Cathedral which
overlooks the River Herault.
enjoy the short walk into Agde
for a little exploration, or, relax on deck with a book. Late
morning, ATHOS leaves your shaded mooring at Agde, and cruises
towards Marseillan. A
spectacular seafood lunch awaits you, as you enter the
open-waters of the Etang
de Thau. The Etang
hosts Europe's largest mussel and oyster park. As ATHOS comes to moor in the
port at Marseillan, you will notice the enclosure which makes
up the Noillly Prat
Vermouth distillery.
End a perfect day with a fascinating tour of the
Distillery -- and, of course, a taste of Noilly Prat vermouth!
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Chef's efforts are sure to make this evening worth
remembering! Captain
Julian will join your party for your final dinner onboard this
evening. During the
evening, he will also invite the crew to make a farewell toast
with you.
Saturday - MARSEILLAN
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After breakfast, wave goodbye to the Crew as the minivan
departs to the appointed destination in Montpellier.
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