In theAude department, just a few minutes from Carcassonne, spend a pleasant day with the family at Lac de la Cavayère, set in lush green hills between pine forests and garrigues. On the program: beach, swimming, water activities, water jump, accrobranche, hiking, mountain biking, fishing… An oasis of leisure and freshness just outside Carcassonne!
Welcome to Carcassonne Plage!
10 minutes from the ramparts of Carcassonne Lac de la Cavayère is a well-known spot for Carcassonnais and holidaymakers alike. Better known as “Carca plage”, Lac de la Cavayère offers a host of water-based activities, including swimming beaches, a leisure center with floating water park, and land-based activities such as hiking, mountain biking and tree climbing. All in a natural setting of 40 hectares, between pine forests and garrigues, in the heart of the Cavayère valleys. All the ingredients are there for a great day out with the kids.
A swimming lake with beach, floating water park and inflatable games
Want to swim without leaving your campsite? campsite near Carcassonne ? At Carca, the beach is Cavayère! Three beaches of sand, grass and pebbles line the lake. During the summer season, bathing is supervised and the water temperature is around 25°C. The perfect place to bathe to the song of the cicadas!
Lac de la Cavayère is also home to “Aquaviva”, a large water park with inflatable structures, catapults, trampolines, slide mats, a climbing wall and sensational zip lines above the lake. Wakeboarding and water-skiing are also available, as are pedalos and surf-bikes for leisurely cruising on the lake. There are also beach soccer and beach volleyball courts, a fishing course (2nd category) and a mini-golf course for hitting the little white ball.
But Aquaviva ‘s star attraction is undoubtedly the Water-Jump, a giant slide that catapults you 8 metres into the air! The one at La Cavayère is the only one of its kind in the world, with a 300 m2 platform, ten toboggan runs and two jumping zones. An unforgettable moment for fans of sliding and thrills! Prices and opening hours Aquaviva :
But also hiking, mountain biking and tree climbing
The Lac de la Cavayère can also be explored on land, with gentle walks and mountain bike outings. The lake can be circumnavigated in about an hour (5 km). An opportunity to discover a wide variety of Mediterranean landscapes, typical scrubland flora and fauna, and untouched ecological niches. In the center of the lake, a bird island is designed for the nesting of ducks and other aquatic species.
For sports enthusiasts, an adventure park offers adults and children the chance to test their skills on an accrobranche course featuring four giant zip lines over the lake, monkey bridges, suspended walkways, climbing walls, Tarzan jumps… One of the most beautiful forest acrobatic parks in Languedoc-Roussillon!
Did you know ?
For the record, Lac de la Cavayère was created in 1985, following a fire that ravaged many hectares of coniferous trees. It was Raymond Chésa, mayor of Carcassonne at the time, who decided to transform the site into an 18-hectare reservoir. Today, Lac de la Cavayère is home to a large aquatic complex that bears its name: the Raymond Chésa leisure park. Following the death of the town’s mayor in January 2005, the Cavayère leisure complex was named after Raymond Chésa.
More info
- Address: route de la Cavayère, 11000 Carcassonne (40 km from Camping La Pinède in Aude).
- Access: take departmental road 6113 (RD 6113) towards Narbonne. On leaving Carcassonne, turn right towards Montlegun – le Lac de la Cavayère.
- Free on-site parking.
- In addition to a restaurant, there are picnic areas where you can spend the whole day.