Family-run gîte complex in the Pyrénées near Carcassonne and Mirepoix
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This page lists watersports on 'Flat' water. We've added this page alongside our 'white water' page to describe watersports that don't need a flowing river - for example gentle canoeing, waterskiing, watersurfing, sailing, waterparks and indoor swimming.
This page was written during June 2020 for the 'covid reopening' and gives some pictures and an overview in French of water-based activities in our area. Sorry - because it's a picture we can't produce an English translation.
Lac de Montbel is the largest inland watersports lake in the South West of France covering an area of over 1500 acres. The lake is only ten minutes drive from us, and provides extensive facilities for anyone who enjoys watersports - for example:
This link will take you to Lac de Montbel details on the local official tourist information site.
Lac Montbel has a sailing club based at the 'La regate' beach / brasserie area where you can hire a yacht. The page below was written during June 2020 for the 'covid reopening' and gives some pictures and an overview in French of the activities. Sorry - because it's a picture we can't produce an English translation.
Between us and the lake is the lovely village of Leran with its superb chateau dating back to the 1300's (privately owned). Leran also has a boulangerie; an excellent bar / restaurant ( Le Rendezvous with bilingual owners), and during the months of July and August, a weekly 'food festival' on a Friday night. The food festival brings together over 20 different artisanal food producers gather ranging from the travelling butcher offering a range of meats to be cooked fresh on the free barbecue, through paella and chinese hot dishes, to crepes, ice cream and of course a range of wines.
The Tarascon watersports base uses a 150 acre hydroelectric reservoir on the Ariege river. It is unique in having a cable towed waterskiing circuit known as 'Teleski', which can be used with normal skis, kneeboards, or monoskis. The picture shows the teleski in operation - each rider holds on to a separate cable and is towed around the lake along a square course. The course has jumps and slalom sections
The Tarascon base also has canoeing, electric boats, beach volleyball and a good cafe / snack bar (see the photo on our Beach page.
The Foix leisure centre is on the edge of the Ariege river just North of Foix. The centre has canoes and pedalos which can be hired, and also has beach volleyball. On specific days each Summer they also have an outdoor climbing wall available and hold one-off performances such as circus entertainment and angling induction courses.
Le Vernet is further down the Ariege river, and the river is much more calm and slow flowing. The team at Vernet offer family rafting trips, and two hour canoeing trips which are suitable for all the family. The scenery en route is wooded and beautiful, and this is a good introduction to rafting for those who don't relish the thought of white water!
Lac de Cavayere is an 18 hectare reservoir that serves Carcassonne and has a very pretty surrounding woodland and a good beach. The lake also has an excellent climbing park with a zip wire across the lake that is just low enough that you can dip your feet as you cross. More details on their website Lac de Cavayere.
At the Gruissan end of the road to Narbonne, and aimed at older children and young adults, the pirate park has outdoor 'thrill' rides and a log flume ride. More details on their website Pirat park at Gruissan.
At the Narbonne end of the road to Gruissan, and aimed at younger children, the aquajet park has a large pool, a toddler pool, water tubes, a toddlers flume, bouncy castle etc. in a park right next to the beach. More details on their website Aquajet at Gruissan.
With many parks across France, the Aqualand group has three on the mediterranean coast. These are large parks with huge water tubes, wave machines and various eating places. See Aqualand for more details.
Smmallest of the three, this park has a long flume, many corkscrew water slides and several large pools.
This is the largest of the three Aqualand parks with the highest flume ride, tunnel pipes and the many pools, pipes and activities for all ages.
This park is near the centre of Cap D'Agde and is a bit more 'crammed in' and busy. It also has many pools, pipes and the activities you would expect for a waterpark!
Indoor pools are available at Mirepoix, Lavelanet, Pamiers, Foix and other major towns.
