The Canal du Midi was one of Europe’s major construction projects prior to the Industrial Revolution, and even though it never really fulfilled its promise of being a major artery of the French economy and is today mostly used by house boats ad other pleasure boats, it is still quite a fascinating achievement. Unless you take a cruise, though, you have to be content to visit it in bits and pieces. I went by train from Montpellier to Toulouse, and from Narbonne onwards, you can see it from the train in many places; the motorway also runs alongside it. In Toulouse, the starting point, you can walk alongside the canal for a long stretch - the main train station Matabiau is right next to it, and a statue of its mastermind Riquet can also be found in the area. Also, the Canal de Brienne, a side canal connecting it to the Garonne River, makes for a pleasant walk. Visitors to Carcassonne will find that the canal is also next to the train station there. Halfway between Toulouse and Carcassonne, the huge basin at Castelnaudary is also an interesting sight, as it is the largest body of open water on the canal (about 7 hectares). For casual visitors, this is probably the one of best spots to see the canal, but to really enjoy it, a boat ride is likely to be preferable.