How to "visit" this Canal, which stretches for over 240km and is visible right from the highway a number of times? I decided to have a closer look at two separate places: Castelnaudary and Toulouse.

Castelnaudary is a small town with a large manmade lake, the Grand Bassin. This is the largest open body of water within the canal, and also the site where its official opening took place. It is pretty underwhelming nowadays, just a little harbour with small private boats and swans.

In Toulouse, I was staying near Canal de Brienne, one of the side canals that is also included. Early Sunday morning I walked on the towpath along that Canal until it joins the Canal du Midi. It's a pleasant and quiet route, mainly used by joggers and people walking their dogs nowadays. Just as at Castelnaudary, there's not a lot to see except for the straight canal and the trees closing it in on both sides.