Canal boat rental Canal du Midi, from Castelnaudary

Waterways Castelnaudary located on the Canal du Midi have the country's oldest locks , which earned them a visit from Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States. Today, the Canal des Deux Mers ( Canal Garonne and the Canal du Midi ) has become a haven for river navigation. Coteaux du Minervois , sunflower fields of the Aude and Medieval Carcassonne cited are alone worth the trip.

In the streets of the old town, you can discover the half-timbered houses and mansions dating from the seventeenth century. The last weekend of August , cassoulet , a dish that made ​​the city famous , is in the spotlight . This is the Festival du Cassoulet ! This dish was invented under the seat of the English. Although its composition raises discussions, it is usually made of beans ingots, duck confit, garlic sausage , ham or pork rind . We can add the Toulouse sausage and either mutton or pork. The traditional preparation of the recipe can take up to seven days. The traditional earthenware pot called ' casserole ', hence the name of the dish.

The city also has the Présidial which has a collection of archaeological objects from prehistory to the Middle Ages , and also hosts a permanent exhibition on the Canal du Midi, the Apothecary history at the local hospital , Cugarel the mill , the Saint-Michel, the Chapel of Our Lady of Pity church , a Chappe Tour ....

For the record, the fourth Regiment of the French Foreign Legion is based in Castelnaudary since 1976 and the barracks is open to the public on April 30 and Christmas.

If you stop at Castelnaudary a Monday, you will have the opportunity to take a ride to the market.