Camping de la Lauze

Camping de la Lauze's location at the foot of the Montagne Noire or Black Mountains has it well set for outdoor activities: try mountain biking, hiking, canyoning and climbing, or ask for maps on site to access the many local hiking trails. By bike and on a less hair-raising route than whizzing down the mountains, pedal along some of the Voie Verte or greenway starting behind the site, on a spectacular 80-kilometre traffic-free run from Mazamet to Bédarieu. Depending on how far you can pedal, you'll pass Languedoc-Roussillon sights such as the caves of Devèze, the Héric and Colombières gorges, the Château de Soult-Berg, and pretty villages such as Olargues. Rent bikes (as well as mountain bikes and scooters) at the tourist office in Mazamet. Watersports are easily accessed 15 minutes away at Lac de Montagnes, a clear, peaceful and deep blue body of water at an altitude of 680 metres. The lake also has a sandy beach, miniature golf and play areas, a kids' pool and several spots for fishing. Around the lake, tackle the shoreside trail and one or more of the five mountain bike paths, or access the botanical trail, GR 7 and walking paths. For town and city day trips, Castres is 15 minutes' drive away, and Carcassonne, Albi, Toulouse and Béziers are all within an hour to an hour and a half by car.