Air Hotel Grand Sud

A friend had told us that if we were to only visit one place in France then that place should be the medieval walled ‘La Cité’ of Carcassonne in the Languedoc Roussillon region of the south. But which campsite to choose? After much deliberation we decided on the Airotel Grand Sud close to the medieval circular village of Preixan and about a twenty minute drive from La Cité. With good access from the main A61, the Autoroute des Deux Mers, the site is easy to reach with a touring caravan or motor home, and also allows easy access to visit the other attractions in the area.
On arrival we were greeted, in French, by the very pleasant receptionists and given directions to our pitch. We had decided to pay an extra 5 Euros per night for a large pitch overlooking the site’s fishing lake, and this was worth every penny. It was massive! It easily accommodated our caravan, car, gazebo, bikes, table and chairs with loads of room to spare, and even had its own water supply alongside the electric hook up point. But best of all was the view across the water to Preixan perched on the hillside, especially in the evening with the sun setting and a glass of the local wine in our hand.
The site itself, although large, is surprisingly peaceful for the south of France in July. All the camping pitches are individually hedged and of a good size with a choice of sun or shade, accommodating a mixture of touring caravans and tents. There is a communal barbecue area next to the lake although you are allowed to barbecue on your own pitch as long as it is raised off the ground. As we enjoy peace and quiet we had been slightly wary of all the facilities on offer such as the tennis court, table tennis and evening entertainment. We needn’t have worried as these are all situated around the restaurant area and as such we had no disturbance at all. As well as the pool with the usual waterslides, we were delighted to discover an ‘Adults Only’ pool in a walled courtyard set amongst a variety of flowers and shrubs. This was particularly welcome in the early evening for a lovely ‘cool off’ after a busy day sightseeing. The restaurant’s menu seems fairly basic consisting of a variety of pizzas and a selection of salads, but the food is good if somewhat pricey due to the poor exchange rate. Small blocks containing toilets and washbasins are dotted around the site, with a large block containing showers more centrally situated close to the pool area. These were all spotless when we visited.
One of the nicest things about this site is the 5 hectare private lake which is a haven for wildlife as well as providing free fishing for campers. Walking, or cycling, along the private path to the other side of the lake leads to the river Aude where swimming or canoeing is possible - or just relaxing in the sun!
In the vicinity there are so many places which are well worth a visit including countless medieval villages and towns, Cathar Castles, abbeys, and vineyards. Not to mention the way marked walking or cycling paths through the garrigue. This is the local scrubland which is full of butterflies and where the air is filled with the scent of the Mediterranean herbs such as fennel, rosemary, marjoram and lavender which grow wild in profusion in that area. Even the Pyrenees or the Mediterranean coast with its beaches and flamingos are only just over an hour’s drive away. All that as well as Carcassonne, which is a truly amazing place!