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Camping de la Cite is definitely the nearest and most convenient for Carcassonne, but others recommend L'Arnauteille, or Val d'Alet, and we've stayed at Le Martinet Rouge, at Brousse la Villaret, north of Carcassonne.

If all you want to do it visit La Cite, then I'd say stay near as you can, do an early morning visit, and leave before the crowds, or choose a site further afield, and visit (as we did the first time) in the early evening, which is very atmospheric.  You can have a meal, wander about La Cite without the crowds (talking about low season, here), and take some fabulous photographs.

It's a lovely place to visit, for a short time, but the crowds, and the tourist tat, make a low season, or even winter visit, much more interesting than joining the 'madding crowd' squeezing in in summer.  We love it on a winter day, spent with our friend in the Aude, lunch in the new town, then an early evening wander about La Cite with no one else there but us..............!

If you want to be able to walk to the old City then la Cite is a good choice. This year we stayed at Camping A L'Ombre des Micocouliers at Trebes which is not far away, infact you can cycle to Carcasonne along the Canal du Midi.

David

Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 01/11/2013

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If you want to be able to walk to the old City then la Cite is a good choice. This year we stayed at Camping A L'Ombre des Micocouliers at Trebes which is not far away, infact you can cycle to Carcasonne along the Canal du Midi.

David

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Minerve is definitely worth a visit, and as Stuart says, in the centre of some good wines!  Aside from the village itself, there is a dry river bed with a cave/bridge across it which runs underneath the village, and the stones in the river bed have been arranged into sculptures which are added to each time you go.  There are good restaurants in Olonzac, and in Homps, too, and they're both worth visiting.