Wild Swimming

The Aude department is spoilt for choice when it comes to places where you can go wild swimming, some say it has the best wild swimming in all of France.

Due to the mountainous nature of the terrain, numerous natural pools have developed over time. In some instances, you can find natural hot springs or naturally warm pools, but due to the heat in summer, these are not necessarily what you might want to look for.

Looking for a spot with cool, or even cold water to take a refreshing dip during the summer months couldn’t be easier. Below I will give a short description of a few of the most popular wild swimming spots, but before you set off there are one or two things you will need to be aware of. Some of the wild swimming spots in the Aude are supervised, though the majority are not, and many of the natural pools and lakes can be quite deep, so if you are not a strong swimmer you may want to do a deeper dive before taking the plunge.

Ribaute

Running alongside the beautiful village of Lagrasse is the Orbieu River, venture North for 2 or 3 km and you will come to the commune of Ribaute  which is home to one of the best spots for wild swimming in the Aude. In the middle of this picture-perfect landscape, you will find turquoise water running over rocks and creating several small waterfalls, venture upstream and you will find still waters very suitable for swimming. These calm areas have been designated as a swimming location and during summer there is a swimming area supervised between the hours of 15.00 to 19.00. As this is certainly a ‘wild swimming’ spot it is not advised that you swim outside of the supervised area or times. There is a car park with 250 places for 4 euros a day, which goes toward the upkeep of the vicinity and pays for the lifeguard.

The Gorges

Ginestas is a commune of the Aude that sits on the border with the Herault department in the Minervois region. Here you will find all kinds of fantastic wild swimming, The Gorge de la Cesse and its neighbour The Gorge du Brian have lots of great scenery and hiking trails as well as lots of natural pools for swimming. Also in the same vicinity is the charming little village of Bize-Minervois, here the River Cesse flows right through the village and is a popular destination for wild swimming, with the bonus of being only a short walk to the many restaurants and shops in the village.

River Verdouble

In the southern parts of the Aude along the border with the Pyrenees Orientales department, you will find the River Verdouble, which is famous for the waterfall that it supplies, the Cascades de Duilhac. There are many spots along the Verdouble where you can find calm waters and some great spots for wild swimming, only 2km away from the Cascade you will also find Peyrepertuse, one of the famed Cathar Castles which you can drive right up to and explore. Climbing to a safe vantage point will allow you to take in the amazing vistas of the Pyrenees, from here you can see for miles and miles in all directions.

Lac de Jouarres

Lac de Jouarres  is a 100-hectare body of water that has for many years been a popular family spot, here you can hire paddleboards, rowing boats, pedalos, and kayaks from the Nautical Club of Jouarres. There is an extensive beach area with grassed spots for relaxing in the sun or the shade when you aren’t swimming or enjoying the many water activities on offer. There are plenty of BBQ and picnic areas where you can while away a summer’s day in this natural setting, after you have eaten, you can walk around the lake; the 5km walk is the perfect distance to walk off your lunch, of course, if it is too hot you can take a dip at any time during the walk.

Cavayere Lake

Just on the outskirts of Carcassonne, you will find Cavayere Lake, a man-made lake which is very popular with locals and visitors alike. Here you can swim in the lake at one of three supervised ‘beaches’, there is also a massive inflatable adventure playground for children large and small. For the adventurous there is an acrobatic course in the trees which includes zip-lines across the lake, there is also a wakeboard/water skiing simulator for the extra adventurous, and paddleboards for hire if you just want to take it easy. It takes a little over an hour to walk around the lake but it is a good workout as there are some uphill sections of the walk. You can also just relax at the restaurant and watch the world go by.

Lake Belcaire

Lake BelcaireBelcaire is a tiny commune in the Aude department, deep in the Pyrenees foothills. What you will find in Belcaire among other things is Lake Belcaire, a spring water lake set in the rolling Pyrenees foothills and surrounded by lots of shady trees, and plenty of grassy areas to set up your picnic/bbq. The lake offers fishing in the mornings and supervised swimming in the afternoons during July & August.

One thing I have learned is that as the pools and their surroundings are often formed from rock, it is advisable to invest in a pair of rubber swimming shoes. These are great for all outdoor water activities, whether it is rock pools, lakes, or rivers, having the correct footwear can certainly enhance your experience. Not only will they protect you if you step on something you didn’t see, but they are also slip-proof to a degree, which could be the difference between having a fun day out and having an unexpected slip on wet rocks.

There is a wild swimming spot to suit all ages and swimming abilities; from remote pools to family lakes it’s all here waiting to welcome you, but you might want to get cracking early as all of the best lounging spots will go very quickly, and the small car parks will fill up fast on a stunning day!