Saint-Nazaire-D'aude: Market, Le Somail and Cultural Heritage

Saint-Nazaire-D'aude offers several distinct themes to help you plan your trip: the Sunday market, the history of Maison Bonnal and the cultural heritage of Le Somail. At the Canal du Midi, there is also a seasonal boat trip and a guided walking tour. The different durations can help you plan your day around your interests.

Market and local history

A market featuring local producers is held in the public garden every Sunday morning. It offers local and seasonal products. The market gives your Sunday a specific place to visit and brings products from the surrounding area into focus. If you include it in your plans, the morning is the best time to go.

Maison Bonnal is also part of the town's history: the house was originally a wine estate. This historical context complements your impressions of Le Somail with a distinct connection to the property's former use.

The protected site of Le Somail

The protected site of Le Somail includes the old bridge over the Canal du Midi, the former ice house and the chapel. The site also includes the façades and roofs of the former keeper's house, as well as those of the former inn. This list shows that the cultural heritage is not limited to a single building: the bridge, chapel and architectural traces of former uses are all part of the protected site.

Another way to discover Le Somail is to visit Le Trouve Tout du Livre. The bookshop is housed in a former cellar, and its location is a small harbour on the Canal du Midi. It offers 50,000 books. Here, a former cellar, a harbour setting and an extensive book collection come together. Visitors interested in books and historic spaces will find a distinct cultural attraction here alongside the features of the protected site.

Boat trip or guided walking tour?

La Barque du Somail offers one-hour boat trips on the Canal du Midi. The service is seasonal, so check before travelling whether the trip is available on your chosen date. La Barque du Somail can be privately booked for groups of up to twelve people.

On “Secrets du Canal du Midi et balade du Somail,” you discover the Canal du Midi and Le Somail on foot with a guided tour. It lasts one hour and 45 minutes. The meeting point is in front of the Le Somail bookshop in Saint-Nazaire-D'aude; you should arrive there 15 minutes before the start. Check the date details when planning so you can allow for the meeting point and the extra time.

The two options differ considerably in duration: the boat trip lasts one hour, while the guided walking tour lasts one hour and 45 minutes, in addition to the recommended arrival time of 15 minutes before it starts. You can first compare how much time you have, then decide whether you would like to experience the Canal du Midi from a boat or on a guided walk.

Discover more destinations: Coustaussa, Saissac, Lagrasse, Moussoulens, Rennes-Les-Bains, Sainte-Camelle, Paraza, Limousis.

For the wider travel guide: Aude.