Lac de Jouarres
Just a few minutes’ drive from the village, the lake has a pebble beach and is great for swimming and sunbathing. Life guards are on duty in July and August. Kayaks and pedalos available for hire, and there are supervised inflatables for children to clamber over and jump from in the summer. Part of the lake is reserved for fishing. There’s also a large grassy area perfect for picnics and ball games. Try the cafe/restaurant, open most of the year – you can dine or simply enjoy a glass of wine or an ice cream overlooking the lake.
Carcassonne Plage
The Lac de la Cavayère, also known as Carcassonne Plage, has three beaches: two pebble and one sand. There’s good swimming with lifeguards in attendance in summer. Waterskiing and wake boarding, paddle boarding and pedalos are all available, while Parc Acqualand with its giant inflatables provides lots of fun. Or you could simply enjoy the 5km walk around the lake. There are a number of cabins selling refreshments, but queues can be long so packing a picnic is a good idea. Just 20 miles from Azille, a quick and easy drive.
Narbonne Plage
This three-mile stretch of fine sand is a real bucket-and-spade beach popular with families, and is quite separate from the city from which it takes its name. You can cycle along the promenade to see the marina, or take lessons at the sailing school and try dinghy sailing or windsurfing straight from the beach. Quad biking and jet skiing are also available. Narbonne Plage is about 45 minutes’ drive from Azille.
Plage des Chalets
The Plage des Chalets (setting for the Oscar-winning Betty Blue) is a glorious expanse of golden sand, with plenty of room for all even at the height of the summer season. There’s a rather cool surf-shack style bar right by the beach, plus a selection of bars and restaurants just behind the beach. Friendly ice cream vendors roam the sands in high season. Good for sandcastles and swimming, it’s popular with all ages. Watersports and banana boat rides are available. There’s plenty of parking and it’s just 45 minutes’ drive from Azille.
Gruissan’s other beaches
The Plage de Mateille, at the foot of the Massif du Clape, is another wide expanse of sand, less developed than the Plage des Chalets. Part of the beach is a designated naturist zone. The Plage du Grazel is small but very pleasant; close to the centre of Gruissan and the marina. Ideal for popping down to the beach for an hour or so as part of a day out in Gruissan itself. The Plage des Ayguades is large and family friendly; you’ll find a large fun fair not far from the beach, and an outdoor pool. The Plage des Salins is the wildest of Gruissan’s beaches and is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. It is also known as La Plage Vielle Nouvelle.
Valras Plage
Valras Plage is a good family beach. This modern seaside resort has a wide expanse of sand and plenty of shops and restaurants. Close to the beach there’s a toy museum, Le Palais de la Maquette, which has an enormous collection of K’nex and Lego, built into some truly impressive structures. In summer, fairground rides and a children’s adventure park are open near the harbour. Just under an hour’s drive from Azille.
Leucate Plage
For many, Leucate Plage is one of the best beaches in the Languedoc, though the sand is a bit gritty for sandcastles. The beach in front of the town is very family friendly; further along there is a quieter, more secluded beach popular with naturists. Nearby Leucate Port has a much busier beach, plus a huge marina, shops and restaurants and also fabulous waterpark Aqualand which is a great day out for kids. Or enjoy hiking over stunning Cap Leucate for amazing views. About an hour’s drive from Azille.
La Franqui Plage
La Franqui is a small seaside resort and beach front, with a boardwalk with some cafés and restaurants and rather old-fashioned charm. Immediately to the east of the little town runs Les Coussoules beach – five miles of fine sand, a great place for windsurfing, kitesurfing and land yachting. Never crowded, even in the height of summer, it’s a great place for the kids to fly a kite. There are no facilities so bring a picnic or eat in the town. About 50 minutes from Azille.