As one of the few traditional Canal du Midi barges remaining on the historic canal, cruising on the Athos awakens the romance and history of the Canal du Midi and Southern France. The construction of the Canal du Midi started in 1666 during the reign of Louis XIV and is one of the oldest European waterways still in use by boats and barges like the Athos.
Athos Special Canal du Midi Design
Athos was specifically designed for the Canal du Midi in 1964 as a commercial grain and wine barge. Her design is specially conceived to to fit on the Canal du Midi’s narrow waterway and low 17th century bridges. The Athos’ first conversion into a luxury hotel barge was in 1982. In an amazing twist of fate, these plans were returned to us only a few years ago. You can check out the design plans of the 1982 conversion here.
In 2007, Athos had another full rebuild and cabin redesign. Modern luxuries like individual heating and airconditioning, ensuite bathrooms, and a state-of-the-art barge kitchen were put in place. Athos’ most recent structural addition, is an hydraulic all-weather terrace cover. Again, painstaking measurements and custom design are top priority to navigate the shape of the Canal du Midi’s very low bridges.
The Musketeers
The Athos was originally one in a family of four commercial barges that carried freight on the Canal du Midi. The four barges were appropriately named after the Musketeers – Athos, Portos, Aramis and d’Artagnan – and were fondly referred to as the “Petit Train” by locals and lock keepers. The barges followed one after the other, carrying wine and grain en route to the relevant ports across the South of France inland waterways.
Athos and the 3 other Musketeer’s have covered wheelhouses which fit through the lowest of the Canal du Midi bridges. Some barges dissasemble their wheelhouse to be able to fit through bridges, leaving the poor pilot to cook in the hot sun!
Made to Measure, Athos Wheelhouse
It is an amazing skill to watch Athos’ Captain take her through the smallest of the 17thC Canal du Midi bridges (at Capestang and Colombiers) He comes within 2 inches of touching Athos’ wheelhouse on either side! Between Owner Julian, who has been piloting the Athos on the canal for more than 35 years, and regular pilot, Pierre Yves, over the past 10 seasons, these two have manoeuvred the Canal du Midi barge up and down the UNESCO waterway more than 5000 times. They’ve got it down to a science, just as the Musketeers’ pilots must have more than 60 years ago.