Domaine de l'Aven

The historic city of Carcassonne (20 minutes’ drive) is likely to be your first port of call, what with its magnificent fortified Château Comtal, the views over the River Aude from the city walls and an outrageously pretty medieval town where cobbled streets are lined with smart boutiques and restaurants. Overlooking the River Cesse, gorgeous Minerve (40 minutes) is a quieter spot for pottering around equally ancient streets and impressive ramparts. To explore the region’s spectacular natural phenomena, head for the cave system at Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine (10 minutes), where you can take boat tours of the subterranean river or fly across caverns on a zipwire. The Grotte de Limousis (15 minutes) is also worth exploring for its stunning displays of stalactites and stalagmites. There are fantastic views over the Montagne Noire and Corbières mountain ranges from Le Roc de l’Aigle (10 minutes), and remote hikes to be had along the limestone Gorges du Brian (35 minutes), where you can stop off to picnic by the river and go wild swimming if you need to cool down on sunny days.