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Before you go
Your trip to Castelnaudary.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Castelnaudary – Occitanie Destination Carcassonne and Toulouse about 60 km from Toulouse
How to get there
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Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) Blagnac · 65 km
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Gare de Castelnaudary 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
The nearest airport is Toulouse-Blagnac, about 65 km away. Castelnaudary station is on the line between Toulouse and Carcassonne, with frequent regional trains. By car, the town is beside the A61 motorway, about 60 km from Toulouse and 40 km from Carcassonne.
How many days
One day is enough for the Grand Bassin, the Saint-Roch locks, the collegiate church of Saint Michael and the Cugarel mill. People traveling by boat or bicycle along the Canal du Midi often stop for one night.
When to go
From April to October, when the canal has boat traffic and the banks are shaded by plane trees. Summer, from July to August, is hot; the cassoulet festival takes place at the end of August. Winter, from December to February, is windy and cool.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No. The station is about 1 km from the center, and the canal, the locks, the collegiate church and the mill can be visited on foot. The canal banks are also ridden by bicycle.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Castelnaudary
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Morning
Grand Bassin of the Canal du Midi
Start at the Grand Bassin, the town’s historic port on the Canal du Midi. Walk along the quays, look at the boats and the island of Cybèle in the middle of the water.
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Afternoon
Saint-Roch locks
Follow the bank to the Saint-Roch locks, the four linked chambers at the exit of the Grand Bassin. Stay a while to watch a boat move from one chamber to the next.
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Late afternoon
Collegiate Church of Saint Michael and Cugarel Mill
Climb to the old town and enter the collegiate church of Saint Michael. Finish at the Cugarel mill, in the upper part of town, with views over the Lauragais plain and the Montagne Noire.
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Evening
Dinner with cassoulet
Dine at one of the restaurants in the center or on the port and try the cassoulet, served in the earthenware cassole in which it was cooked.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Castelnaudary?
The Grand Bassin and the Saint-Roch locks on the Canal du Midi; the collegiate church of Saint Michael and the Cugarel mill in the upper part of town.
Is Castelnaudary on the Canal du Midi?
Yes. Castelnaudary’s Grand Bassin is the largest body of water on the canal, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
How to get to Castelnaudary from Toulouse or Carcassonne?
By train on the line between Toulouse and Carcassonne, or by car on the A61 motorway. The town is about 60 km from Toulouse and 40 km from Carcassonne.
What is Castelnaudary’s connection to cassoulet?
The town is regarded as the birthplace of cassoulet, white beans cooked with meats in an earthenware cassole, and it holds a festival dedicated to it at the end of summer. Origin, versions and preparation are covered on the cassoulet page in Flavors of France.