Le Parc Australien
Much more than just an animal park and very good fun; probably best enjoyed by under 12s. Besides the kangaroos and emus, there is a fascinating history of the aboriginal nations, art, face painting and a ‘gold digging’ sand-play area. Just outside Carcassonne.
Réserve Africaine de Sigean
The Réserve Africaine de Sigean is the biggest and best safari park in France, covering around 700 aces/300 hectares, with both drive-through and walk-through areas. The park has 3,800 animals – including lions, giraffes, rhinos, gorillas, elephants, emus, monkeys, alligators, cheetahs, zebras and more. 32 miles/51km from Azille.
Meet the dinosaurs
Not one but two dinosaur museums – both on important paleontological sites and both around 1 hour 20 minutes’ drive from Azille. Many fossilised bones and eggs were discovered near Meze, where you will find the Parc des Dinosaurs today. Children can marvel at the largest complete dinosaur skeleton in the world, spot the huge model dinosaurs in amongst the trees and hunt for dinosaur eggs in the sandpit. WEBSITE Dinosauria, near Esperaza, has interesting fossils and skeletons, plus life-size models – including one of a T Rex that roars! website
Cité de l’espace
Europe’s finest space museum has a full-scale model of the Ariane rocket and also one of the Russian Sputnik satellite, plus a genuine section of the Mir spacecraft and a piece of moon rock. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits, a fantastic planetarium and a 3D cinema. Plenty to keep the whole family occupied for a whole day or even more and just as interesting for parents as it is for kids. Cite de l’espace
Spooky grottoes
Deep underground grottoes of stalagmites and stalactites will amaze your children. The Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine has a vast cavern that could hold Nôtre Dame cathedral – view it from a panoramic walkway, then stand on the glass viewing platform for extra excitement. The Grotte de Limousis has a series of caves, some with underground lakes, and a gigantic crystal ‘chandelier’. The two grottoes are only a couple of miles apart; you can buy a joint ticket for both if you wish.
For knights and princesses
Take your little ones on a journey back in time. Children will enjoy clambering around the ramparts of the Citadel in Carcassonne and in July and August they’ll love the Knight’s Tournament – a fun show with jousting, combat, stunts and pyrotechnics. A medieval festival is held here in August each year. At Minerve there is a small museum telling the story of the Cathars with figurines. Kids can explore the old river bed and the caves cut into the limestone cliffs, and be able to see the replica trebuchet up on the cliff top. Alternatively, the walk up the hill to stunning Peyrepertuse will definitely burn off some steam and afterwards you can all cool down by swimming in the river below – there’s a good spot just outside the village of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse.
Up in the trees
The O2 Adventure at the Lac de la Cavayère is superb. There are seven courses of varying difficulty to appeal to all ages (4 years up). You can even fly over the lake on a zip wire! Challenging enough for adults too.
Pony Trekking
There are a number of riding stables in the area. Les Appaloosas du Pech, in Montouliers (30 minutes’ drive) offers treks through amazing terrain and is popular with guests. Ferme Equestre de Pech de Bragos also offers pony trekking and is just down the road in La Redorte. For a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, or donkey rides, visit Les Refuges de Grandes Orielles in Caunes-Minervois. Do check which languages are spoken before you book; the tourist offices will be happy to help.
The Canal du Midi
Access to the canal towpath is just a couple of minutes from Azille. Kids will love cycling or running along the towpath – it’s flat and not too challenging, although tree routes break through in places making it a bit bumpy. Boat trips run from a number of villages on the Canal – Homps being the nearest. Go to the Ecluse d’Aiguille just outside Puichéric to watch a lock in action and see the fun sculptures by the canal. Or make a trip to the Fonseranes Locks, near Beziers; a series of eight locks and nine basins allows boats to descend over 2,000m over a distance of 300m.
Cycling on the Chemin Vert
The Chemin Vert is literally a ‘green path’, mainly following the track of the old railway line, running from Puichéric to Caunes Minervois via Azille. It makes for a lovely family cycle – you could go on to the next village or just follow the track for a little while and then turn back towards home. You can join the path on the road to Rieux-Minervois. Alternatively, there are plenty of minor roads winding past vineyards and fields which have little traffic – and any vehicles can be seen from a good way off. The road to Siran is quiet and not too demanding; once you reach the village it could be time for ice cream at the café. Alternatively children could cycle the path around the Lac du Jouarres.
Watersports
Windsurfing lessons are available at the Lac du Jouarres – just a few minutes’ drive from Azille, it’s very good for beginners due the shallow launching area. Alternatively, La Nautique sailing centre on the Étang des Bages is a registered École Française de Voile (French Sailing School) and runs courses for children in both windsurfing and dinghy sailing. The étang is sheltered and another great place to learn. Pôle Nautique at Gruissan’s Plage des Chalets offers windsurfing and kayaking tuition, while Glisse & Kite in St Pierre La Mer (east of Narbonne Plage) offers lessons in Optimist sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Just down the road in Puichéric, you can hire kayaks from Eaurizon – or arrange a session escorted by an instructor – and go paddling down the River Aude. Individual and group sessions available. Always check which languages are spoken before booking tuition.