The journal
The journal

Stories from the guesthouse, the Canal and beyond

News from Le Grand Bassin, faithfully reproduced from the guesthouse journal.

PK 65.2
Lauragais
JOURNAL
Journal

5 May 2021

Enjoy a cassoulet – Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary

Our family table is getting ready for Sunday's star attraction: cassoulet! Over 2 days, a feast slowly simmers into being! Everything is organised in advance with our local friends. Castelnaudary's PGI lingot beans take a dip in chilly water for several hours. Next comes a hot bath lasting over an hour, with a few vegetables, aromatic herbs and their friend, the bacon. Toulouse sausage and duck bask in a little fat until golden. Her Majesty the cassole...

Journal

28 September 2026

Slow down, Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary

What if you stopped counting the kilometres? What if, this time, you made the Canal du Midi a place for personal growth? There's no need to challenge yourself to ride Toulouse–Castelnaudary or Castelnaudary–Carcassonne. Your challenge can be much simpler: one lock after another a few kilometres at a time a break whenever you feel like it ☀️ a changing landscape ✨ and, with every lock you pass, a small victory Because, ultimately, moving forward doesn't...

Journal

5 September 2026

Piano du Lac, Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary

A timeless evening on the water… Imagine… The sun gently disappearing behind Castelnaudary's rooftops, the sky reflected in the Grand Bassin, a few lights dancing on the water… and music drifting over from a floating stage. ✨ Once a year, Piano du Lac transforms the Grand Bassin into an open-air theatre. And this year, the magic was there with Mouss & Hakim, the two brothers and former Zebda bandmates, accompanied by Polpo...

Journal

31 May 2026

Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary: Train + bike

The house is 300 m from the station ➡️ Explore the OCCITANIE RAIL TOUR offer, available all year round Remember to reserve a space for your bike ‍♀️ What if your cycling trip began… by train? For summer 2026, several measures are being introduced to make taking bikes on trains easier ⁠ ✅ Reservations required on certain routes ✅ Additional bike spaces ✅ Specially equipped seasonal trains ⁠ Each region has its own arrangements...

Journal

1 April 2026

✨ 290th chapter gathering: Castelnaudary cassoulet celebrates spring! ✨

28 March 2026 will be remembered as a special occasion filled with tradition, togetherness and passion The Grande Confrérie du Cassoulet de Castelnaudary welcomed no fewer than 35 brotherhoods from all over France… and even Belgium A true spirit of fellowship around our culinary emblem! On the programme: induction of new dignitaries who swore to defend our divine dish Sharing expertise and upholding traditions The anthem sung by the choir of...

Journal

1 April 2026

2026, 30th UNESCO anniversary, cycle ride finishing at Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary

‍♀️ 30 years of UNESCO status for the Canal du Midi: a festive, inclusive ride ‍♂️ Saturday 11 April – departure at 8:30 am from Toulouse Head to Castelnaudary and its iconic Grand Bassin for a friendly 60 km cycle ride open to everyone An outing endorsed by “30ans du canal” and “Villes pour tous” Information & bookings: 05 31 61 91 95 A day to: ✔️ celebrate exceptional heritage ✔️ share an accessible, inclusive experience ✔️ experience the canal differently, at the pace of the water and...

Journal

12 March 2026

Responsible comfort at Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary

“What if true luxury meant responsible comfort?” Air destratification fans installed in every room. ❄️ Winter edition – Warmth that surrounds you Here, warmth doesn't stay up at the ceiling… it stays with you. For winter, we installed air destratification fans so that warmth spreads where it matters. ✨ What you'll feel during your stay: Gentle, even warmth No more cold spots A cosy, natural atmosphere, never stifling The...

Journal

28 January 2026

Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary: Ambassador for the Aude department

✨ Le Grand Bassin is bold… and an ambassador for the Aude department! ✨ We had the pleasure of attending a wonderful evening with Aude's tourism community, celebrating sharing, commitment and love for our region. This gathering and the network's activities are organised by the Aude Departmental Tourism Agency. Proud to be Ambassadors for Aude, we champion tourism that is genuine, people-centred, positive in its impact (Green Key certified) and...

Journal

28 January 2026

Le Grand Bassin, Castelnaudary: Ambassador for the Aude department!

✨ Le Grand Bassin is (Aude)acious… and an ambassador for the Aude department! ✨ Last night, we had the pleasure of attending a wonderful evening with Aude's tourism community, celebrating sharing, commitment and love for our region. This gathering and the network's activities are organised by the Aude Tourism Development Agency. Proud to be Ambassadors for Aude, we champion tourism that is genuine, people-centred and positive in its impact (certification...

Journal

22 January 2026

Le Grand Bassin Castelnaudary awarded Green Key certification for 2026

The whole team at Le Grand Bassin is proud to receive Green Key certification for the 2nd time. We are now among the 3,035 establishments in France committed to sustainable tourism! This certification, developed in France by the association @Teragir, assesses hundreds of criteria and recognises our commitments to sustainable development, including: - an inclusive house for everyone - optimised energy management - local purchasing - communication highlighting our actions and...