Harbour

Homps

Name: Homps
Address: Homps, FR

3.1Homps, France

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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. Capitainerie open in season. Bakery, grocery, butcher and restaurants on the port square. 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.