Things to do in the Ariege.
Ax-les-Thermes
The spa town of Ax-les-Thermes is a pretty ski resort ringed by mountains. There are 17 ski lifts of which 4 are chair lifts and 12 are surface lifts, a cable car and plenty of restaurants. 75 km of runs served by the lifts. Apart from skiing, the attraction of the town is the Bassin des Ladres, which is a relic of the ancient hospital which was founded by St Louis in 1260 for the treament of wounded soldiers returning from the crusades. It is open to the public and is very soothing to the feet. The basin is fed by underground hot sulphur spring water, and at various points around the town, hot water trickles steadily into the streets. At the centre of the town are some well preserved medieval overhanging houses. These are clustered around the Place du Breilh, Place Roussel, Avenue Delcassé and Rue de l'Ecole. The town makes a good stop off point en route to Andorra.
Foix
Situated in the heart of the Ariège department, 82 km south of Toulouse,Foix is dominated by the Château des Comtes de Foix with its three majestic towers. There is a good view of the château from the Pont de Saint Girons. It is a pleasant country town with an attractive medieval quarter which lies between the rivers Ariège and Arget. The Place St Vincent is a charming small square with a stone lion's head fountain at its centre. Some attractive 19th century half timbered houses are in Place Parmentier. In Place du 8 Mai 1945 is the Portail de Sainte Geneviève, and 18th century bourgoise house which became a religious school at the end of the 19th century. The town offers a good selection of restaurants, pizzerias and crêperies. There is a market on Tuesdays between 4pm and 8pm at the Halle St Volusien, and on Fridays 8am to 1pm. During recent years there has been a revival of traditional crafts, and visitors can see a traditional brewery at Brasserie Janicol. On the Rue des Grands Ducs are many prehistoric caves carved out of the rock face, which were used as hiding places during the second world war. 3km to the south of Foix at Montgailhard on a 5 hectare site are the Forges du Pyrène. The forges house a collection of over 6500 tools from yesteryear, with daily demonstrations, a picnic area, restaurant and children's play area. 6km to the north of Foix is the River Labouiche, the longest underground navigable river in Europe, with guided visits and commentaries. The Musée de l'Histoire de la Chasse is a hunting museum with artefacts from prehistoric times to the present day. It is open Mondays to Fridays with visits at 9am, 10.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm. Tel 05 61 65 04 02. There is tennis at the L'Ayroule Sports Centre, with 2 covered and 2 open air courts. The local area offers canoeing, kayaking and trout fishing (2km from Foix), as well as 24 marked walking trails and mountain biking. There is a covered swimming pool (26th September - 16th June) and an open air pool (1st July - 26th August) at Place du Champ de Mars. Behind the swimming pool is the Skate Park at the Square du Jardin Dunant. There is also a gym at 13 Place du Champ du Mars. 7km to the NW on the D117 is the Cantegril Riding Centre, and other activities in the area include parapenting (12km SW) and skiing (18km west) where there are 3 ski runs.
Holiday accommodation in Ariege
French Pyrenees Tourist Info: Ariège: Le Biros
Le Biros is one of the 18 Ariège valleys, comprising the communes of Sentein, Atras, Bonac-Irazein, Uchentein and Balacet. The area offers walking at all levels, including the Boucle de la Carrière route (2 hours), the Boucle de la Chapelle de l'Izard (3.5 hours) and the Circuite de la Soutaine (5 hours). There is also the Tour du Brions, which can be completed in 3 or 4 stages. Other activities include winter skiing, mountain biking (the area is renowned for its steep slopes) and fishing for the Fario variety of trout in the rivers Les, L'Isard and L'Orle. There is an equestrian centre, the Ecuries du Biros, which offers trekking of 2 - 6 days. Visit the Eglise Fortifiée de Sentein. The Transhumance takes place in late May and early June, when local farmers lead sheep, horses and cows up to the higher mountain slopes. This can last for several days, with the descent taking place in early October. Also in the region are the Réserve Nationale de l'Orlu extending to 4000 hectares, and the 9000 hectare Réserve du Mont Valier, one of the oldest in the Pyrenees with deep valleys, spectacular views and many animal and bird species including marmottes and eagles.
Les Cabannes
Leaving the N20 you enter Les Cabannes, nestled in the Haute-Ariège at an altitude of 536m. Ideal for hiking with more than 450 km of walking trails through the mountains, and close to the GR10 route. For a more leisurely journey it is possible to hire donkeys. The village has approximately 370 inhabitants and there are ski hire shops, restaurants and bars/cafés. For winter skiing, the Plateau de Beille offers 12 pistes of which 2 are green, 4 blue, 5 red and 1 black. There is also a snow garden for children and a toboggan run. Fishing is catered for at La Pisciculture des Chutes de l'Aston, and a holiday licence can be obtained which lasts 15 consecutive days between 31st May and 21st September. Canoeing/kayaking is also available at La Pisciculture. The town has an open air swimming pool, and two outdoor tennis courts and a mini golf which are open all year round.
Massat
A very pretty village situated between mountains and rivers, with lots of sporting activites all year round. Walking with a qualified mountain guide, climbing, and horseriding at the Centre Equestre Boutou. The nearby Etang de Lers offers winter cross country skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing, with equipment available for hire on site. The centre has 57 pistes which include 4 new snow shoe tracks, and a bar/restaurant. From June to mid September there is trout fishing. The lake is stocked weekly and licences can be bought on site. There is a pontoon for people with reduced mobility. Parapenting over the lake is also a popular pastime. From June to September the surrounding hills are home to the Gasconne cattle. For an unusual method of transport, donkeys can be hired at the market place, for rides of 1 hour, 1 day or 2 or more days. The market takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays. The town has a museum, the Ecomusée Le Vieux Moulin, visits by reservation, and there is a fair on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.
Mazères
Mazères is a bastide (hilltop) town of 3000 inhabitiants situated 60km from Toulouse on the borders of the Ariège, Haute-Garonne and Aude departments, on the banks of the river Hers. The town has an ancient quarter on the left bank of the river. Sites to visit include Place de l'Eglise, the Hotel d'Ardoin which is a classified historic monument, and the Place des Tourelles. There is an open air pool, tennis, fishing and walking routes, as well as many festivals and fairs throughout the year. The Domaine des Oiseaux is located at Augé, Route de Calmont, 09270 Mazères. Tel 05 61 69 12 97.
Mirepoix
Mirepoix is one of the prettiest medieval villages in the region. The main attraction is the town square and its surrounding covered galleries housing a good selection of shops and restaurants. The House of Consuls is of particular interest with wooden sculptures topping its massive beams. The old Town Gate is the last remaining trace of the ancient town walls. The huge Gothic Cathedral of St Maurice dates back to the 12th century. Local activities inlcude walking, horse drawn carriage tours, fishing in the river Hers and on Lac Montbel, tennis, climbing and potholing. The ski slopes are within easy reach and the town has ski hire shops. There is a municipal swimming pool, a gym, a cinema and a museum situated close to the entrance of the cathedral which is open from April to October from 2pm to 6pm. A farmers' market takes place on Monday mornings, and the Town Hall hosts permanent local exhibitions. There are many pageants and festivals during the summer season including Les Médiévales. Guided tours are available in English and last approximately last one hour. Details from the Tourist Office which is situated at Place Maréchal Leclerc. Tel 05 61 68 83 76.
Monségur
The small village of Monségur is the site of one of the Cathar Castles where the father of Simon de Montford burned more than 200 Cathar priests as they refused to deny their faith. The castle was one of the last strongholds of the Cathars, although the actual castle has been destroyed and there is no remaining trace of it. The castle which now occupies the site was largely rebuilt in the 13th century. Three walking tours are available in the town including the Tour du Chateau. The walk takes approximately 2.5 hours. Guided visits are also possible in May, June and Spetember at weekends and Bank Holidays, and daily during July & August. The town has a small village church, local shops and cafés and a small archaeological musuem.
Montferrier
Montferrier forms part of the Pays d'Olmes which is renowned for its wide range of outdoor activities. The ski station Les Monts de'Olmes is 1.5 hours from Toulouse and 1 hour from Carcassonne, and is one of the largest ski stations in the Pyrenees with a snow park, children's ski area and a man made ice rink. There are also 23 mountain biking trails, 16 family walking routes and 15 horse riding trails. The Tourist Office is at Maison de la Montagne et du Tourisme, 09300 Montferrier. Tel: 05 61 01 14 14.
Pamiers
Pamiers is the capital city of Basse Ariège and has the status of 'Ville Fleurie.' The Aerodrome of Pamiers-Les Pujols offers flights over the Cathar Castles (from 50€ per person for 30 minutes) and parachuting. Tel 05 61 68 60 60. Fishing is available on the river Ariège, the Lac de Labarre and on numerous town centre canals, stocked with fario trout (maximum catch 10 trout). Canoeing/kayaking at Le Venet d'Ariège (children must be over 8 years old and able to swim a minimum of 10 metres. Tel 05 61 67 35 94). The Neptunia Water Park offers pools, jacuzzi and sauna and is located on the Route de Toulouse. Sites in the town to visit include the late Victorian Palais de Justice, the church Notre Dame du Camp which is famous for its magnificent organ, the Carmelite Monastery which was used as a prison during the French Revolution, the 15th century Porte de Nerviau which is one of the few remaining original town fortifications, the medieval houses on the Rue de la Caussade, and the Tour de la Monnaie which dates back to 1419. The town has a good public park with numerous species of trees. You can take the Chemin de St Jacques which is a walking route through the town, with information boards along the route. The Tourist Office is on Bd.Delcassé. Tel 05 61 67 52 52.
Saverdun
Saverdun lies on the axis of the RN20 and the A66 and is the first town you come to when you take the RN20 towards Andorra. It is 50km from Toulouse with a population of approximately 4000. Numerous lakes and the river Ariège offer opportunities for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and there is also a jet ski base, tennis courts, a municipal swimming pool and excellent walking around the town. The town dates from Roman times and there are traces of Roman villas The Tourist Office is at the Aire de Périès, Saverdun Sud. Tel 05 61 60 09 10.
St Girons
The market town of St Girons is ideal for both winter and summer, as there are three ski stations and plenty of walking opportunities around the town. Local pink marble is used on some of the picturesque streets, and there is a good selection of restaurants, bars and cafés. There is a good view of the town from the Pont-Vieux. Markets take place at the Champ du Mars three times a week. Activities include trout fishing (licence details from the Tourist Office situated inside the Maison de Couserans), canoeing and kayaking, and summer swimming in the municipal open air pool. The town hosts a folk festival in mid July and a theatre festival in August. St Girons is at the ggateway to the Couserans Valleys, a series of 18 valleys which make up a third of the Ariège region. Mobile homes are available to rent and buy at a privately owned campsite just outside the town.
Ste-Croix-Volvestre
An ideal village for a relaxing break, surrounded by beautiful countryside with ancient windmills and the rustic Montardit Chapel. The village lies between the valleys of the Volp and Lens and dates back to around 1120. A village museum has exhibits of costumes, domestic tools and glassware from the end of the 19th century. The Church Saint Jean l'Evangeliste has frescoes, and dates from 1458.
St. Lizier
The village of St Lizier dates back to Roman times and is classed as a Ville d'Art et de l'Histoire. It is reputed to be one of the most beautiful villages in France. It is perched on a hilltop with narrow alleyways, some 15th - 18th century half timbered houses and views of the Pyrenean mountains. The Church of St Lizier contains a collection of frescoes dating from 1080 which were created by an Italian studio. The original pharmacy, now a retirement home, dates from the 18th century and can be visited daily, although it is essential to check first with the tourist office as the maximum number of visitors is 20. The Tourist Office is situaed at Place de l'Eglise. Tel 05 61 96 77 77.
Tarascon sur Ariège
This small town is close to the prehistoric paintings of Niaux which are 2 km to the south, and makes a good base for exploring the Vicdessos valley. There is a market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, a 3 day festival in May and the Festival Latino in July. There is an indoor municipal swimming pool.
