A Walk Around the Cité de Carcassonne (Castle of Carcassonne), France
The Cité de Carcassonne is a medieval citadel located in the French city of Carcassonne, in the department of Aude, Occitanie.. It is located on a hill on the right bank of the River Aude, in the south-east part of the city proper.
Founded during the Gallo-Roman period, the citadel derives its reputation from its 1.9 mi long double surrounding walls interspersed by 52 towers. The town has about 2,500 years of history and has been occupied in different ages by Romans, Visigoths, Saracens, and Crusaders. At the beginning of its history it was a Gaulish settlement then in the 3rd century A.D., the Romans decided to transform it into a fortified town. The Roman defences were in place by 333 AD, when the town is described as a castellum. The original walls were supported by between 34 and 40 towers, spaced from 18 to 30 metres apart along the curtain wall. Each tower was semicircular in plan and about 14 metres tall. There were probably 40 main entrances to the town.
The Gallo-Roman walls were rebuilt during the town's occupation by the Visigoths in the 5th and 6th centuries, but the original structure remained in place.
Bernard Aton IV Trencavel, vicomte of Albi, Nîmes, and Béziers, introduced a period of prosperity for the city with numerous construction projects. During this period, a new sect known as Catharism sprang up in Languedoc. In 1096, the vicomte of Trencavel authorized the construction of the basilica of Saint-Nazaire with the blessing of Pope Urban II. In 1107, the citizens rejected his sovereignty and called on Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona to remove him. However, with the help of Bertrand, Count of Toulouse, Bernard Aton regains control of the Cité. In 1120, there is a second revolt, but Bernard Aton re-establishes order a few years later. In 1130, he starts construction of a palace for himself and restoration of the Gallo-Roman fortifications. The Cité of Carcassonne is surrounded by a complete fortification for the first time..
At this time, the city has a large population of 3 to 4 thousand, including the residents of the two settlements below the walls of the Cité: the bourg Saint-Vincent on the north, and the bourg Saint-Michel south of the Narbon gate.
In 1208, Pope Innocent III calls on the barons of the north to mount a crusade against the Cathars, beginning the Albigensian Crusade. The Count of Toulouse, accused of heresy, and his principal vassal, the Vicomte of Trencavel, are the main target of this attack. On 1 August 1209, the Cité is beseiged by the crusaders. Raimond-Roger Trencavel surrenders quickly on the 15th of August in exchange for the lives of the citizens. The town around the Cité is destroyed, and the citizens driven out. The vicomte dies of dysentery in his own chateau on 10 November 1209.
His lands are given to Simon de Montfort, the leader of the crusaders. When he dies in 1218 at the siege of Toulouse, his son, Amaury de Montfort, takes possession of the Cité, but is unable to maintain it. He cedes it to Louis VIII of France, but Raymond VII of Toulouse and the counts of Foix ally themselves against him. In 1224, Raimond II Trencavel retakes the Cité. However, Louis VIII launches another crusade in 1226. From that time forth, the Cité becomes a royal domain. A period of terror ensues, with numerous massacres and the Inquisition.
After 1226, an additional line of fortifications was added outside of the Roman walls. The town was finally annexed to the kingdom of France in 1247 A.D. It provided a strong French frontier between France and the Crown of Aragon. During this period, the inner, Roman walls were largely demolished and replaced, while the new outer walls were reinforced and extended to the south. The new towers built during this work were mainly circular, but two were square. Construction continued into the reign of King Philip IV in the early 14th century.
In 1659, after the Treaty of the Pyrenees, the province of Roussillon became a part of France, and the town lost its military significance. Fortifications were abandoned and the town became one of the economic centres of France, concentrating on the woolen textile industry.
In 1849 the French government decided that the city fortifications should be demolished. This decision was strongly opposed by the local people. Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille and Prosper Mérimée, an eminent archaeologist and historian, led a campaign to preserve the fortress as a historical monument. The government later reversed its decision and in 1853 restoration work began. The architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was charged with renovating the fortress. Viollet-le-Duc's work was criticised during his lifetime as inappropriate to the climate and traditions of the region. After his death in 1879, the restoration work was continued by his pupil, Paul Boeswillwald, and later by the architect Nodet.
The citadel was restored at the end of the 19th century and in 1997 it was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
France's Cathar region: Relics of the Middle Ages in the Pyrenees
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In the Middle Ages, Catharism - a Christian sect accused of heresy – thrived in the heart of the French Pyrenees. Its indelible imprint can still be seen today: perched on a rock some 1,200 metres high sits Montségur castle, where the Cathars lived until they were massacred on the orders of the Pope. A few kilometres away, in the village of Talairan, locals are battling to save the area’s Cathar heritage, including the little chapel of Notre Dame de L’Aire. FRANCE 24 takes you to discover it.
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Carcassonne : Carcassonne visit, guided tour, Aude, visite guidée
Une visite guidée de Carcassonne en anglais (sous titres en français). Découvrez l'histoire de cette cité médiévale, depuis son origine au 6ès AV JC jusqu'à aujourd'hui.
Merci à Meï Line, Dusk Light et Coline pour leur coup de main
A guided tour of Carcassonne in English .
Discover the history of this medieval city, from its origin (VI BC) until today
Thanks to Meï Line, Dusk Light and Coline for their help
Leave us plenty of comments about the places you would like to see and always ask yourself : voulez vous coucher avec...Carcassonne ?
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Top 15 Things To Do In Carcassonne, France
Cheapest Hotels To Stay In Carcassonne -
Best Tours To Enjoy Carcassonne -
Cheap Airline Tickets -
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Here are top 15 things to do in Carcassonne, France
All photos belong to their rightful owners. Credit next to name.
1. Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus -
2. Canal du Midi – barge trip -
3. Carcassonne Cathedral -
4. Narbonne -
5. Château Comtal and Ramparts -
6. Lac de la Cavayère -
7. Carcassonne Lower City -
8. La Cité de Carcassonne -
9. Museum of the Inquisition -
10. Musée des Beaux-Arts -
11. Caunes-Minervois -
12. Châteaux de Lastours -
13. Wine -
14. School Museum -
15. Cuisine -
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Carcassonne, France: Europe's Ultimate Fortress City
More info about travel to Carcassonne: The fortress city of Carcassonne is a 13th-century world of towers, turrets, and cobblestone alleys. This is Europe's ultimate walled fortress city.
At you'll find money-saving travel tips, small-group tours, guidebooks, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, and more on this destination.
Narbonne, France - Explore this Indoor Market at the Hub of this Bustling Town
Hotel Barging in France - An Excursion to Narbonne Market. For more information please visit: - Our hotel barges gently introduce you to some of Europe's finest scenery, fascinating history and local culture.
Our classic Canal du Midi cruises include a visit to Narbonne, a Roman Mediterranean capital where the Visigoth monarchs once lived. Explore the indoor market at the hub of this bustling town, where you will have time to shop or simply absorb the relaxed atmosphere.
Narbonne was the first town outside of Italy to be colonized by the Romans and grew to be the second largest town in Gaul. Once a coastal port, it prospered until the sea receded in the Middle Ages. It is now eight miles inland. Today Narbonne has a well-restored medieval quarter. The Cathédral St-Just is the tallest cathedral in southern France and is known for its beautiful stained glass and tapestries.
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Cathars Chateau de Latours - HD
An unusual arrangement of three castle towers (Las Tours, The Towers) this fortification belonged to the Lords of Cabaret, who held in fief from the Trencavels.
In the thirteenth century there were three towers here, built on the same rocky outcrop. They are called Cabaret (to the north), Quertinheux and Surdespine (to the south). These are some of the few original Cathar castles left.
The Seigneurs of Cabaret received troubadours here, including Raymond de Miraval and Peire Vidal, who dedicated verses to the Cathar Ladies of the place.
Lastours lies in the Aude departément just north of Carcassonne.
During the Cathar Crusade this was one of the most ardent centres of resistance to the French Crusaders, In 1209 it was besieged unsuccessfully, by Simon de Montfort. It was here a year later that a line of a hundred men appeared on foot, having snaked their way from Bram, their eyes torn out, their noses cropped and their lips cut off by the Holy Catholic soldiers of Christ., carrying out what they described as God's Business
In March 1211, after the fall of Termes, Pierre-Roger de Cabaret, negotiated the surrender of the château, under diplomatic rather than military pressure. In 1223 he recovered his property. Once again Cabaret became the foremost centre of resistance against the French invaders. The Cathar bishop of Carcassonne, Pierre Isarn, was given refuge here until 1226.
Cathar roads, Gorge De Galamus, Pyrenees, France, Europe
The Cathar Country is a tourist term used by the department of Aude, which is the department at the center of the country where the lords and the people had converted to Catharism. This term concentrates on Corbières, sits of the majority of royal citadels improperly qualified some of Cathar castles. The promoters of this term tend to impose this tourist slogan instead of words, the more justified historically and culturally (Catharism did not leave a religious legacy in the South, the Southwest and the Southeast of France, because that religion disappeared after 1307, after evangelistic missions undertaken by the Preachers). The people of Occitania and specifically the Languedoc, with Occitan, are mostly from Catholic families who have no roots Cathars, but there is still a few families of the Aude, the Hérault and Gard, who are descendants of these good men and good women.
Cathar Country is a registered trademark in 19911, owned by the General Council of the Aude. The Cathar program wants to value and preserve the wealth of the Aude, federate local initiatives and support the professional organization of Aude producers. From hotels to restaurants through the cottages, rooms and guest tables, wine cellars, shops, gourmet products, lamb, pork, beef, poultry, honey, milk, bread , arts and crafts ... a whole range of products and services certified.
Cathar roads, Gorge De Galamus, Pyrenees, France, Europe
The Cathar Country is a tourist term used by the department of Aude, which is the department at the center of the country where the lords and the people had converted to Catharism. This term concentrates on Corbières, sits of the majority of royal citadels improperly qualified some of Cathar castles. The promoters of this term tend to impose this tourist slogan instead of words, the more justified historically and culturally (Catharism did not leave a religious legacy in the South, the Southwest and the Southeast of France, because that religion disappeared after 1307, after evangelistic missions undertaken by the Preachers). The people of Occitania and specifically the Languedoc, with Occitan, are mostly from Catholic families who have no roots Cathars, but there is still a few families of the Aude, the Hérault and Gard, who are descendants of these good men and good women.
Cathar Country is a registered trademark in 19911, owned by the General Council of the Aude. The Cathar program wants to value and preserve the wealth of the Aude, federate local initiatives and support the professional organization of Aude producers. From hotels to restaurants through the cottages, rooms and guest tables, wine cellars, shops, gourmet products, lamb, pork, beef, poultry, honey, milk, bread , arts and crafts ... a whole range of products and services certified.
Sete : A port of call in the French Mediterranean
STOPOVER PORT : SETE
TOUR NAME: SETE & THE THAU LAGOON
DURATION : 4 HOURS
DESCRIPTION:
Built during the reign of Louis XIV at the end of the 17th century, the port of Sète
enjoys an outstanding geographical situation. Surrounded on one side by the waters of
the Mediterranean and on the other by the Thau lagoon, it has an extremely original
configuration. With its many canals and bridges, the town has long been known as
Languedoc Roussillon's 'Little Venice'.
Sète is a great centre for culture and traditions and is proud to have become the home
of the Regional Contemporary Arts Centre in recent years, adding to its many museums
and art galleries. Home town of the French writer Paul Valéry and of Jean Vilar, the
creator of the Avignon Festival, Sète is also home to many famous international artists
such as the Rosa brothers, Combas and Soulage.
During the summer season, the town organises a number of water jousting competitions,
a secular tradition that is carried out to the sound of drums and oboes.
Finally , a visit to Sète is also a chance to discover its culinary traditions based on
produce from the sea. Food-lovers will be delighted by platters of shellfish, grilled fish,
mussels, stuffed squid or the 'tielle ' ( a small tart filled with squid)!
P ROGRAMME :
13 : 30 : Leave by coach for a panoramic tour of Sète, its canals and bridges...
14 : 00 : Stop at the summit of Mont Saint Clair, commentary on Sète and the Thau
Lagoon, visit Notre Dame de la Salette chapel.
15 : 00 : Down to the old port.
15 : 15 : Presentation of fishing port as the trawlers come in.
16 : 00 : Leave for Château de La Peyrade, a winegrowing estate specialising in the
production of Frontignan Muscat.
16 : 15 : Muscat tasting.
17 : 15 : Return to Sète
17 : 30 : Arrive at the port
PRACTICAL INFORMATION :
Services available on this excursion :
Public toilets at the top of Mont Saint Clair and in the Old Port.
Shops in Sète (closed on Sundays and public holidays)
Le Pays Cathare - Châteaux et Paysages
Découverte du pays Cathare. Cette région de France particulièrement présente dans l'histoire de notre pays. Un moment à savourer tellement les paysages et autres citadelles du vertige sont exceptionnels...
France's Dordogne
Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide | The Dordogne River Valley — with its dramatic castles, evocative cave paintings, and prized cuisine — is an unforgettable blend of man-made and natural beauty. We'll take an idyllic canoe ride, and then visit a goose farm and savor the foie gras. We'll also wander through a lamp-lit castle, enjoy a country market, and visit the Sistine Chapel of the prehistoric world. Then we head south to Albi, home of Toulouse-Lautrec, and the imposing fortress city of Carcassonne.
© 2008 Rick Steves' Europe
Cruising the Canal du Midi Aboard Hotel Barge Anjodi
Anjodi is very much a hotel barge of the classic Dutch design and also the founding member of our fleet, embarking on her first cruises along the historic Canal du Midi 35 years ago.
Her beautiful interior makes the most of traditional materials such as African hardwoods and shining brass to create a warm onboard feel, reminiscent of a classic yacht.
The charming saloon is particularly welcoming, with its combination of richly coloured wooden flooring, elegant French dining furniture and comfortable banquette seating, as well as a fully stocked bar.
The four compact, cleverly-designed cabins, featuring hardwood panelling and brass Portholes, offer a choice of twin or double bedded accommodation, each with en suite facilities.
The spacious sundeck is shaded by an adjustable canopy and there are comfortable sun loungers and a spa pool to soak in with a glass of chilled white wine.
Anjodi is a very well-known hotel barge having achieved “film star” status some years ago following her many appearances in the television series Rick Stein’s French Odyssey, when she carried the eponymous chef on a voyage of culinary discovery through Southern France. Why not follow in his footsteps with a cruise along the Canal du Midi, a 330-year-old canal with UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Canal du Midi
The 330-Year-Old Canal du Midi skirts the sun-drenched shore of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through the fabled 'Cathar Country', with its fortified hilltop villages and walled cities, such as Carcassonne.
This historic canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is defined by its beauty, lined with plane trees, Canalside villages and crossed by pretty, arched bridges. The warm Mediterranean weather and gentle pace of life lulls you into unwinding as your hotel barge slowly cruises along this serene waterway. This is the perfect place for cycling or walking along the ever-present towpath, or simply watching the scenery drift by as you relax on deck with a cool drink.
In the distance you can see the Pyrenees, while closer to hand are the vineyards of the Languedoc that seem to stretch endlessly all around. You will discover a marvellous blend of ancient Gallo-Roman and traditional influences reflected throughout this region of historical importance and visit such places as Pezenas, Minerve and Narbonne.
The cuisine is a delicious combination of Provençale and Mediterranean flavours. Fresh seafood and regional specialities, paired with the excellent local Corbières and Minervois wines, produce an unforgettable repertoire of dining experiences.
More on the Canal du Midi
From Roman times, a link between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic had long been on the minds of those wishing to avoid a trip around the Strait of Gibraltar. Charlemagne considered it in the 8th century. François I and Leonardo da Vinci talked about it in 1516. But it took a wealthy salt tax collector in the 17th century to bring it to pass.
Pierre Paul Riquet (1604-1680) of Béziers supplied the vision, the drive, and even part of the financing for the Canal du Midi. In 1666 an edict by Louis XIV proclaimed that construction could begin. Seven million cubic meters of earth were excavated for the project, which employed 12,000 men over a period of 12 years.
The Canal du Midi was built to enable the more efficient transport of goods and add to the mobility of the French navy. It was also intended from the beginning to bring glory to Le Roi Soleil, Louis XIV, the Sun King. Covering 150 miles, it includes 328 structures such as locks, tunnels, bridges, and aqueducts. The canal's 63 locks include double, triple, quadruple and sextuple staircase locks.
The canal has changed little in its 300 years. Now lock gates are steel rather than timber. An aqueduct was built to create a waterway over the River Orb. And a water slope was built at Béziers to allow boats to avoid the six-rise staircase. In 1996 the canal was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
The high quality of construction that went into the locks, aqueducts, and buildings is responsible for making the Canal du Midi the oldest canal in Europe still functioning. The canal remains not only functional but of high quality, making it the most popular canal in France.
Beautiful 15th-century château in Touraine
Touraine, 15th-century château, totally sheltered from view in an enclosed park of approx. 100ha. Beautifully restored, the château has refound its sheen of yesteryear respecting the materials and the history of the place and having all the modern comfort. The architectural elements (monumental fire places, ceilings with exposed beams
) are perfectly preserved and match with the beauty of the decoration, tapestries, silks and textiles of the most famous brands. The land of approx. 100ha is a peaceful place where deers and wild boars can be seen. Two ponds complete this land.
Five Days In Languedoc- Roussillon: Lunch in Narbonne
We took a break from vineyards for lunch in the ancient town of Narbonne, the agreed upon birthplace of French wine culture. Join me as we take a tour of one of the most emmense food markets I have ever seen.
Places to see in ( Caen - France ) Château de Caen
Places to see in ( Caen - France ) Château de Caen
The Château de Caen is a castle in the Norman town of Caen in the Calvados département. It has been officially classed as a Monument historique since 1886. The castle was built c. 1060 by William the Conqueror (William of Normandy), who successfully conquered England in 1066. His son Henry I then built the Saint George's church, a keep (1123) and a large hall for the ducal Court.
On Christmas 1182, a royal court celebration for Christmas in the aula of Caen Castle brought together Henry II and his sons, Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, receiving more than a thousand knights. Caen Castle, along with all of Normandy, was recaptured by the French Crown in 1204. Philip II reinforced the fortifications. The castle saw several engagements during the Hundred Years' War (1346, 1417, 1450). The keep was pulled down in 1793 during the French Revolution, by order of the National Convention.
The castle, which was used as a barracks during World War II, was bombed in 1944 and seriously damaged. In 1946, Michel de Boüard, an archeologist from Caen, decided to start excavations in the area of the castle to bring to the light medieval traces. The Musée des Beaux-Arts, which was installed in 1967, opened in 1971.
The castle was constructed on a hillock and is now in the middle of the city. With an area of 5.5 hectares, it is one of the largest castles in Western Europe. It remained an essential feature of Norman strategy and policy. Today, the castle serves as a museum that houses
the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts of Caen)
the Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy) along with many periodical exhibitions about arts and history, in the castle residence;
Saint George's church;
the Échiquier de Normandie (Exchequer of Normandy), used as a temporary hall of exhibitions, which seated the Court of Normandy;
a garden showing plants cultivated in the Middle Ages.
The keep, now razed, had a large square section with round towers at each corner. As the castle, it was also surrounded by a moat. The dry moat still provides a circuit for walkers.
The top of the ramparts offers a splendid view of Caen. Some parts of the curtain walls were built during the 12th century, but most of them date from the 15th century. The castle has two main entrances: the porte sur la ville ('gateway to the town') and the porte des champs ('gateway to the fields'); they are reinforced by two barbicans.
( Caen - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Caen . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Caen - France
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Tour de France 2016 : Revivez le départ de Carcassonne
Effervescence des grands jours ce matin dans le centre ville de Carcassonne. Ville départ de la 11ème étape du tour de france2016.
Un public venu nombreux et de bonne humeur assister à cette fête du vélo et à la traditionnelle distribution de cadeaux publicitaires.
France in the Middle Ages | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
France in the Middle Ages
00:02:34 1 Geography
00:06:09 2 Demographics
00:07:24 3 Languages and literacy
00:12:26 4 Society and government
00:12:35 4.1 Peasants
00:15:08 4.2 Cities and towns
00:17:55 4.3 Aristocracy, nobles, knights
00:19:51 4.3.1 Vassalage and feudal land
00:23:34 4.3.2 Peerage
00:26:41 4.4 Monarchy and regional powers
00:30:50 4.4.1 French power in the Middle Ages
00:36:29 4.5 Royal administration
00:36:38 4.5.1 King's Council
00:42:07 4.5.2 Royal finances
00:46:37 4.5.3 Parlements
00:47:47 4.5.4 Estates General
00:50:18 4.5.5 Prévôts, baillages
00:53:30 5 Political history
00:53:39 5.1 Carolingian legacy
00:55:29 5.2 The First Capetians (940–1108)
00:59:45 5.3 Louis VI and Louis VII (1108–1180)
01:03:39 5.4 Philip II Augustus (1180–1223)
01:06:42 5.5 Saint Louis (1226–1270)
01:10:53 5.6 Philip III and Philip IV (1270–1314)
01:17:49 5.7 Louis X and Philip V (1314–1322)
01:21:09 5.8 The Hundred Years' War (1328–1453)
01:25:43 5.9 List of kings during this period
01:27:34 6 Religion and the Church
01:27:47 6.1 Jewish-Christian Relations in France
01:29:55 7 Economy and technology
01:30:43 8 Culture and art
01:30:52 8.1 Literature
01:31:26 8.2 Art
01:31:38 9 Notes
01:31:47 10 Bibliography
01:31:56 10.1 Early Middle Ages
01:32:36 10.2 High Middle Ages
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The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The Kingdom of France in the Middle Ages (roughly, from the 9th century to the middle of the 15th century) was marked by the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire and West Francia (843–987); the expansion of royal control by the House of Capet (987–1328), including their struggles with the virtually independent principalities (duchies and counties, such as the Norman and Angevin regions) that had developed following the Viking invasions and through the piecemeal dismantling of the Carolingian Empire and the creation and extension of administrative/state control (notably under Philip II Augustus and Louis IX) in the 13th century; and the rise of the House of Valois (1328–1589), including the protracted dynastic crisis of the Hundred Years' War with the Kingdom of England (1337–1453) compounded by the catastrophic Black Death epidemic (1348), which laid the seeds for a more centralized and expanded state in the early modern period and the creation of a sense of French identity.
Up to the 12th century, the period saw the elaboration and extension of the seigneurial economic system (including the attachment of peasants to the land through serfdom); the extension of the feudal system of political rights and obligations between lords and vassals; the so-called feudal revolution of the 11th century during which ever smaller lords took control of local lands in many regions; and the appropriation by regional/local seigneurs of various administrative, fiscal and judicial rights for themselves. From the 13th century on, the state slowly regained control of a number of these lost powers. The crises of the 13th and 14th centuries led to the convening of an advisory assembly, the Estates General, and also to an effective end to serfdom.
From the 12th and 13th centuries on, France was at the center (and often originator) of a vibrant cultural production that extended across much of western Europe, including the transition from Romanesque architecture to Gothic architecture (originating in 12th-century France) and Gothic art; the foundation of medieval universities (such as the universities of Paris (recognized in 1150), Montpellier (1220), Toulouse (1229), and Orleans (1235)) and the so-called Renaissance of the 12th century; a growing body of secular vernacular literature (including the chanson de geste, chivalric romance, troubadour and trouvère poetry, etc.) and medieval music (such as the flowering of the Notre Dame school of polyphony from around 1150 to 1250 which represents the beginning of what is conventionally known as Ars antiqua).
Mary Magdalene and the Sacred Land of the Languedoc, France
Astaria Woods shamanic sound healer acting as a guide to the sacred places on this crystalline land of the Languedoc region of France.We connect here with the loving energies of Mary Magdalene and the many cosmic beings that surround this area.
Cruise the Canal du Midi aboard Hotel Barge Clair de Lune - Hotel Barge Cruises in France
- Luxury all-inclusive hotel barges cruising the beautiful waterways of Europe. Cruise the Canal du Midi aboard Hotel Barge Clair de Lune
The Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi is one of the oldest canals in Europe. Linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean, this remarkable 17th century feat of engineering was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1996. This famous waterway meanders past sleepy canalside villages, sun-drenched vineyards and offers views of the snow-capped Pyrenees. For more information please see:
We cruise the canal between the charming village of Le Somail and the fortified city of Carcassonne, discovering some of the most beautiful scenery in the south of France along the way. During our voyage along the tree-lined Canal du Midi we visit historical sites such as the spectacular
Cathar town of Minerve, the elegant city of Narbonne and enjoy wine tastings at renowned local domaines. For more information please see:
Clair de Lune
Clair de Lune is a deluxe hotel barge tastefully furnished with cherrywood and African hardwoods that provide a sophisticated, modern interior. She provides superior accommodation for up to 6 guests in three contemporary double or twin junior suites with en suite facilities. There is a comfortable, stylish dining area and saloon with picture windows and a large sundeck with a spa pool from which to admire the passing countryside, together with bicycles for exploring the famous towpath. For more information please see:
*Music by Crocodile Music