Mediterranean beaches near Carcassonne

The Carcassonne - Toulouse region is inland so it doesn't have its own sea beaches but if you're staying in a holiday villa around Carcassonne then you can easily get to the glorious sandy beaches of the Languedoc Mediterranean in under 40 minutes. The nearest beaches are around Narbonne. Narbonne Plage, Gruissan, Fleury d'Aude, Port la Nouvelle and Leucate are all excellent destinations for a beach day out. North of Narbonne are St Pierre and then on up to Béziers and even Cap d'Agde, Languedoc's biggest seaside resort.

And don't forget that you can enjoy superb bathing conditions in rivers and lakes, too. Many people prefer rivers and lakes to the coast as the crowds are less and you can generally find a bit of shade - quite important with small children or if you don't like gently roasting out on the hot sands. There are several spots in this region where you can take a dip but be aware that most swimming spots do not have lifeguards, so take care of both yourself and your kids. Some of the best spots are Lac du Montbel, Lac de Ganguise, Lac d'Arques and Les Cascades de Dhuilac.