Harbour

Homps

Name: Homps
Address: Homps, FR

3.1Homps, FranceCanal du Midi

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Type: Harbour

Canal port in the village of Homps on the Canal du Midi, roughly midway between Carcassonne and Beziers in the Aude.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Entry from the Canal du Midi bief between Homps lock and Ognon lock. Guaranteed draught 1.40 m, bridge clearance 3.30 m. Maximum vessel 30 m by 5.35 m. Speed limited to 6 km/h, reduce further close to moored boats.

Practical

Around 90 berths on pontoons, water and electricity on most quays, diesel pump, sanitary block with showers. The Le Boat charter base takes part of the port, but visitor berths are available along the quay, some with power and some on the banks without. A berth runs about 23 euros for a 10 m boat, with water, electricity and showers charged on top. The harbour office is at the Maison du Vin. Bakery, butcher, a port grocery open daily including Sundays and restaurants on the square; a Super U with fuel lies 500 m away. Le Somail and its bookshop 10 km east, Carcassonne 30 km west by road.

Ashore

Canal du Midi towpath for walking and cycling in both directions, part of the Canal des Deux Mers velo route. Minervois AOC vineyards all around the village, cellar tastings at Chateau de Paraza 3 km south. Lac de Jouarres for swimming at 1.5 km north, with a sandy beach and picnic area.

History

Homps was a commercial wine port from the late 17th century, shipping Minervois barrels to Bordeaux and Sete via the canal. The old stone warehouses along the quay date from that period. The canal itself, built 1666 to 1681 by Pierre-Paul Riquet, is a UNESCO site since 1996.

Story

Homps was the point where Minervois wine barrels were transferred between the canal and carts heading to the Aude river, making it one of the busiest wine loading quays on the canal in the 18th century.