Castelnaudary

Castelnaudary, a small town in the Aude department of southern France's Occitanie region, claims to be the world capital of cassoulet and is a major producer of the dish, celebrated each August since 2000. The town sits on the Canal du Midi and was historically part of the Lauragais, a region once known as the "Pays de Cocagne" for its agricultural abundance. A café and restaurant scene strong for its size makes it a practical base for exploring the wider area.

• Population12,432
• Nearest water0.3 km
• Nearest mountain14.6 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1