Must-do family activities in Aude

Where to go out with the family in the Aude around Carcassonne?

The medieval city of Carcassonne

18 km from the campsite: to visit the medieval city of Carcassonne with children, consider either the little train that will take you on a complete tour of the ramparts with commentary, or the Calèches de la Cité, which offers 20-minute guided tours of part of the lices between the 2 ramparts, or take part in the treasure hunt to explore the city and discover the riddles that will lead you to the treasure!

The paper mill at Brousses

Fun tours of paper-making. Workshops and courses for children are offered throughout the year. Nature and the environment invite you to take a family stroll (botanical trail, signposted hiking trails, magnificent viewpoints, footbridge across the river, La Dure).

Lac des Montagn’yes and Lac’Cro Parc

Accrobranche near Mazamet, 24 km from the campsite: Water sports base (inflatable games, equipped beach, restaurants, etc.) and several accrobranche courses suitable for all ages.

Lac de la Cavayère in Carcassonne

20 km from the campsite

Nautical base with numerous activities and facilities in high season, 25 km from the campsite:

• O2 Aventures:situated on the shores of Lac de la Cavayère, the forest acrobatic park is one of the finest in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. A total of 7 courses for the whole family. There’s something for everyone. Thrills for all. The O2 Aventure park welcomes you all year round at Lac de la Cavayère. The lake is located 5 minutes from Carcassonne.
• Water-skiing
• Pedalos and paddleboards
• Parc Aquaviva: plunge back into childhood in this water park featuring inflatables in the form of giant slides, trampolines, catapults, slide mats and a climbing wall, accessible from age 5.

The Water-Jump, reserved for a more experienced public, will guarantee adrenaline and thrills for the most daring. Two 21-metre waterslides: one with a springboard at the end of the run will throw you up to 7 metres high, and the other is a bodyboard ride where you’ll glide 60 metres over the water.

Le Parc Australien Carcassonne

30 km from the campsite: discover the kangaroos, visit the aviary, have fun with the many wooden games and the little adventurers’ course, and enjoy the picnic area. Combine with an activity at Lac de la Cavayère in Carcassonne.

The Wood and Toy Museum

Near Mazamet, 30 km from the campsite: visit this original museum, a real playful journey from forest to tree, from tree to wood and from wood to toy! An interactive tour with workshops for children and adults, a games room and a boutique featuring French artisans. To be combined with the Passerelle de Mazamet and/or hiking trails.

Le petit Paradou

Near Montolieu, 10 km from the campsite: pony rides on a shaded, signposted circuit, mini-farm to get up close to the animals (rabbits, goats, etc.).

The Mazamet footbridge, 30 km from the campsite

Take a dizzying ride 70m above the ground on the footbridge, which leads to 2 signposted trails to discover our historical and natural heritage. The Mazamet footbridge promises thrills and spills and is a unique experience in the Occitanie region. Combine with a visit to the Maison du Bois et du Jouet.

The Black Mountain Llamas

40 km from the campsite: Llamas, native to Latin America, welcome families and groups all year round for visits and nature hikes. The llamas are friendly, familiar and curious, and are waiting to welcome you with educational activities for children. Visits, mini-treks and day trips are also of interest to groups (seniors, associations, IMEs, etc.).

The Musée de la Chevalerie in Villesèquelande 18 km from the campsite

Dinosaur Museum

In Esperaza, 65 km from the campsite: 4.5-billion-year-old evolution gallery with 20,000 fossils in the collections, games and activities for children, 18 complete dinosaur skeletons, films and cartoons and a real-life animated TIREX!

The Sigean African Reserve

80 km from the campsite: the visit to the Réserve Africaine de Sigean starts with a 1-hour drive, followed by a 2.5-hour walk.

Over a 7.5 km route, you will drive through the three African bush parks, home to dwarf buffaloes, impalas, zebras, springboks, ostriches, giraffes, etc.; then on to the Tibetan bear and lion parks, and finally to the three African savannah parks, where you will discover white rhinoceroses, sitatungas, warthogs, Somali donkeys, etc.

After parking your car in the parking lots at the center of the Réserve Africaine de Sigean, the walk takes you along the ponds where pink flamingos, pink-backed pelicans and white storks regularly breed…

You’ll discover the many viewing parks with views of African antelopes, chimpanzees, cheetahs, wild dogs…

The vivarium and alligator house will take you into the mysterious world of reptiles…

At the very least, you should allow between three and four hours for your visit, so it’s best to plan for the whole day!

Eaurizon in Puichéric

45km from the campsite: base for outdoor activities such as canoeing, kayaking, paddling, rafting, hydrospeed, canyoning, rock-climbing, caving, …from 1h30 to a full day, depending on the itinerary.

The Mediterranean

Enjoy the sea, sand and attractions of the Mediterranean coast for 1 day. Just an hour and a half’s drive from the campsite, you can reach Gruissan or Narbonne plage for a change of scenery and family fun on the many Mediterranean beaches.

Other activities and sites close to Le Martinet Rouge campsite (max. 30 km from the campsite) in the Aude department

Pennautier castle 15km from the campsite: this 17th-century historic monument is open to the public for guided or self-guided tours. The château’s extraordinary gardens promise a moment of well-being, the cellars offer tastings of wine from its own estate, and its restaurant “La table du Château de Pennautier” welcomes you to discover regional specialties.

Saint Papoul Abbey 25 km from the campsite: this cathedral abbey, long home to a community of Benedictine monks, is located between Toulouse and Carcassonne and will plunge you into 1200 years of history.

Caunes Minervois Abbey 30km from the campsite: this abbey has stood the test of time. Founded in 780, the primitive Carolingian church has undergone numerous Romanesque and Gothic re-constructions, right up to the present day, when it houses, among other things, a comic strip exhibition whose theme is renewed each year to highlight a new comic strip character. Take a soothing stroll through the medieval village of Caunes, famous for its red marble, and discover its secrets and the remains of its fortified walls in the narrow cobbled streets.

L’atelier du livre in Carcassonne 20km from the campsite

The Museum of Chivalry in Villesèquelande 18km from the campsite

House of the Occitan Truffle in Villeneuve Minervois, 30km from the campsite

Where to go out in the Aude with your family?