Grand Bassin Castelnaudary Canal Du Midi

PK (Point Kilométrique):

Year of Construction:

Type of lock:

Lock keeper presence:

Water drop (meters):

Bike path side: South side

This man made lake serves as both the largest port on the Canal Du Midi and as a water reservoir to supply water to the canal, and in particular water for the 4 locks situated at its eastern end (ecluses de st roch).  It is the same size as the walled city of Carcassonne, namely 7 hectares (18 acres).

Winds can blow very hard here.  It has happened in the past that horses would be blown into the water and subsequently drown.  After too many of these incidents a small island was created inside the lake, to act as a wind breaker.  This island is called l'île de la Cybèle, or the Island of Cybele.  The wind was also used to power many windmills around this lake.  About 20 to 30 windmills were present here, processing the grains brought from the surrounding areas.  None of these windmills are present any more.  But some of their structures are still visible: whenever you see a round building you can be sure that it used to be a windmill!

The original plan for the Canal Du Midi was to go around Castelnaudary, just as in Carcassonne.  But the government of the city as well as the local diocèse de Saint-Papoul thought it better to have the canal pass right through Castelnaudary.   Paul Riquet, the builder of the canal, asked for 30000 livres to change his original trace of the canal, which the city happily paid.

​

​