Visit the Aude from the campsite
near Carcassonne
The surrounding area of your campsite near Carcassonne
Located close to Carcassonne, Camping de Montolieu is the destination of choice for sunny vacations in the Aude region.
Enjoy an ideal Mediterranean climate with warm, sunny days, perfect for discovering local treasures.
Explore the majestic Cité de Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its impressive medieval ramparts.
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Relax along the Canal du Midi or go on an adventure on the many hiking and cycling trails offering picturesque views.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do between water sports, horseback riding and waterside picnics. For culture buffs, local markets, summer festivals and wine tastings add a touch of charm to your day.
Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, this campsite near Carcassonne offers a sunny and memorable getaway, where every moment is an invitation to discovery and well-being.
Stay near Carcassonne and visit Montolieu
Charming little village on the edge of the Montagne Noire. Montolieu, a village of books and arts, was revitalized in the early 90s by a bookbinder
from Carcassonne. Initially, the village was home to a book museum, but as the passion for books grew, so did the number of booksellers and second-hand booksellers.
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Delineated by the “Dure”, come and stroll through the two main streets of Montolieu village, stopping off at the various stores to meet old and new writers from all over the world.
Alongside all this hustle and bustle, you can also visit the village’s artists. You’ll find artists’ studios, sculptors, painters, draughtsmen, potters etc. all along the narrow streets.
At the entrance to the village, don’t miss the Manufacture de Montolieu, a cultural center taken over by a group of artists who will take you on a journey through their work.
Montolieu is also home to two museums: the Musée des Métiers du Livre, where you can learn about bookbinding and illumination (for young and old alike), and the Musée Cérès Franco, a former cooperative cellar, which takes you to the heart of “Féminin Plurielles”.
There are many signposted walks around the village, offering magnificent views of the village and its church, as well as the Pyrenees. You’re bound to find something you like in Montolieu.
Discover Carcassonne
The spearhead of Carcassonne tourism, the Cité de Carcassonne stands out from the rest by its majesty.
Come and see the town from its 3 km of ramparts. Enter the city walls, where you’ll be greeted by a host of colorful stalls and wonderful restaurants.
Stroll at your own pace along the cobbled alleys to the château comtal. From there, let us guide you on an adventure within the walls of the city of Carcassonne.
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During the season, the Cité reveals its secrets with numerous workshops for children, taking them back to the Middle Ages for a vacation in Carcassonne. For the more adventurous, visit the city’s haunted house for guaranteed thrills.
If you’d like to take a tour of the city, Carcassonne’s little train will take you as far as the Porte Narbonnaise. On July 14, a fabulous fireworks display is fired over the Cité de Carcassonne, so you’re sure to get a real treat. Several sound and light shows are also organized.
Discover Cavayère lake
In need of freshness?
Just a few minutes from your campsite near Carcassonne is the Lac de Cavayère. With a surface area of 40 ha, this lake is the ideal place to relax in the cool of the countryside.
For lovers of nature camping in the Aude, you can walk around the lake on a specially laid-out path.
There are plenty of activities along the way. For idleness, Lac de Cavayère offers beaches of sand, pebbles and grass: just relax…
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For treetop adventures, O2 Aventure” offers tree climbing and explorer games, four zip lines over the lake and wilderness investigations.
Want to discover the lake from the water?
Have fun at Parc Aquaviva (open from June to August) with the water jump, climbing wall, sliding carpet and 8 m high jumps.
For water sports enthusiasts near Carcassonne, there’s also a waterski lift offering a range of activities: water boarding, kneeboarding, water skiing… Rent paddles, pedalos, canoes and paddle at your own pace. Catering facilities on site!
Do you like water sports?
Visit the Bram water ski lift. Whether you’re a novice or a professional, you’ll have the pleasure of having fun on the Buzerens lake, with friends, as a couple or as a family!
Visit the castles of Lastours near Carcassonne
To discover the Cathar castles, take a tour of the Lastours castles, a magnificent historic site. A breathtaking landscape awaits you during your hike.
Climb the steps for a view of the four castles and visit every nook and cranny. You can also take part in a “Faunes et Flores” trail, explaining the botanical wealth of this site steeped in 4000 years of history.
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Walk in the footsteps of the Cathars with the Pays Cathares app: it will give you all the explanations you need to better appreciate this place full of images from the past.
If that’s what you’re after, there are other fabulous sites to visit in the Aude and close to your campsite near Carcassonne, such asVillelongue Abbey, Caunes Minervois Abbey and Saissac Castle, one of the oldest in the Montagne Noire.
Explore the Cabrespine chasm
Just a stone’s throw from the castles of Lastours, go underground in the Gouffre de Cabrespine. As one of the 10 most beautiful caves
in Europe, you’ll discover prodigious formations.
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The originality of this tour lies in its glass bridge, which rises 200 m from the bottom. The tour is accessible to disabled visitors.
However, the Gouffre de Cabrespine is not just a place to visit, the site also offersrock-climbing, with an exceptional via ferrata running along the cliffs, monkey bridges and vertiginous zip lines underground.
If this is a bit too much for you, the chasm offers a great compromise, navigating an underground river.
Take a canoe through the galleries of this giant chasm. Why not stay underground for a few more minutes, then get back on the road and visit the Limousis cave.
It’s one of the largest caves in Europe. Marvel at the sight of its 7 extraordinary rooms and 2 emerald-green lakes.
Diving in the Saint-Ferréol lake
Head towards the Tarn, to reach the Lac de Saint Ferréol.
Nestled in a green setting, you’ll arrive at this magnificent expanse of water that promises walks and moments of relaxation.
A Unesco World Heritage site, the lake dates back to the 17th century and is a reservoir for the Canal du Midi.
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Today, it’s a popular leisure base for locals and holidaymakers alike in the Aude region.
Numerous water and land-based activities are on offer, including catamaran sailing, windsurfing, climbing and orienteering. Swimming is supervised during the summer months.
If you’re looking for a place to cool off without feeling too hot, in the heart of a vast forest, this is the lake for you. You can go for a walk, see the work done to feed the Canal du Midi, take a dip or enjoy a spot of fishing, alone or with friends.
Explore the Canal du Midi
Here we are along the Canal du Midi, from Toulouse to theEtang de Thau. You can follow it on foot, by bike or by boat. Along the way, you’re sure to find serenity in the calm of the water and the surrounding vegetation.
Let us take you on a voyage of discovery when the locks open and close. Whether you’re on a long or short stretch of the river, you’re sure to meet new people.
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From your campsite near Carcassonne, you have several options. Join the canal from Saint Eulalie, Carcassonne or Trèbes, with part of the canal alongside restaurant terraces. And don’t forget Castelnaudary!
The Wine Route itinerary
Like all wine-growing regions, theAude can also be visited via its wine route. With 4 major estates (Minervois, Corbières, Cabardès and Malepère), you’ll have plenty to taste and meet great wines and winemakers along the way.
You’ll discover a heritage, a gastronomy, but also men and women who love their vines and their wine.
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During the summer season, winegrower walks are organized. These are moments of sharing and conviviality in the vineyards and châteaux of the winegrowers.
On foot or by bike, travel for miles through the vineyards and let yourself be intoxicated by the beauty of the countryside and the wines of the Aude region.
The seaside at Gruissan and Narbonne
Fancy a seaside excursion in the Aude? Just 1 hour from the Montolieu campsite near Carcassonne, don’t miss out on a visit to Gruissan, particularly the Salin de Gruissan.
Gruissan has many memories, including a cinematic one with “37.2 degrees in the morning” and its ever-present beach huts.
It’s also kitesurfing on those great beaches where the wind mixes with the sport to give us moments of vertigo.
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It’s also the salt marshes, salt stretches of pink water that make you want to dip your feet in for a magnificent photo.
Nearby, visit Narbonne, its cathedral and Roman remains. The cathedral of Saint Just and Saint Pasteur is majestic, with its Gothic style and towers rising over 40m high.
Find a little piece of Rome in the Aude, with a section of the Via Domitia preserved in the town center and a museum dedicated to the origins of the town.
Passing through the La Clape estate, don’t miss Narbonne-plage, with its dazzling views down to the sea. A stroll on the beach, a seafood tasting, a salty swim, everything is grouped together here for a good day on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Visit to the Sigean African reserve
Take the day to visit the Sigean African Reserve. A superb African setting in the heart of the Aude department.
A walking tour takes you to the African plains, the chimpanzee island and the aviaries. A second drive takes you into the bush and savannah, to the bear and lion park.
You’ll be coming back to your campsite around Carcassonne with big smiles on your faces.
Explore the Australian Park
Animal lovers camping in and around Carcassonne can visit the Australian Park. Discover the flora and fauna of this richly endowed country.
From cute koalas to adorable kangaroos and kookaburras, you’ll learn a lot about Aboriginal culture. A little piece of the Australian spirit has come to nestle in the Aude near Carcassonne.
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Feel like editing? The Nore peak
From the campsite near Carcassonne, follow a mountain road to reach the Pic du Nore. The highest point of the Montagne Noire, it rises to an altitude of 1211m.
An ideal destination for hikers and cyclists, the Pic du Nore offers breathtaking scenery.
Reach the summit for a 360-degree view of the Aude and Pyrenees.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to make out the Mediterranean Sea.
The Montagne Noire has a lot to offer with its many hikes, forests, lakes and smiling inhabitants. For a bit of a thrill, take the suspension bridge at Mazamet, starting from the medieval village of Hautpaul.