CLUB DE VOILE LAC DE LA GANGUISE

Fancy a sunken breaststroke, windsurfing or paddleboarding? It's all possible at Lac de la Ganguise, halfway between Carcassonne and Toulouse, in the communes of Baraigne, Cumiés, Gourvielle and Molleville. The 280-hectare dammed lake forms the artificial Estrade reservoir, surrounded by pine forests, fields of sunflowers and wheat - open air guaranteed. This horseshoe-shaped lake mainly collects water from the Ganguise river to the southeast, making it the largest body of water in the département. The two arms of the lake meet at the dam to the northwest. A small island can be seen in the southern arm, home to grey herons and kingfishers, two protected species that are a delight for birdwatchers. For sports enthusiasts, sailing, windsurfing, horse-riding and fishing are just some of the activities on offer at the departmental nautical base, not forgetting swimming in hot weather (unsupervised) and fishing, even at night in some places (contact the Castelnaudary AAPPMA). You can hire your own boat, and if you're a keen sailor, why not join the Castelnaudary Sailing Club, which you can find here. Training courses are organized by the school, and numerous regattas and challenges take place regularly on the water, stimulating the competitive spirit and inculcating real bonds of solidarity and camaraderie.