3 spa resorts, 9 ski resorts, rivers for swimming, this territory means good for you! A department of the Pyrenees backed by Spain and Andorra, Ariège offers you its traditions, its authenticity and a preserved nature. 40% of its surface area is integrated into the Regional Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees, this terroir is home to a rich mountain biodiversity, both faunistic and floristic. This living and inhabited mountain also sees, in summer, the transhumance of sheep, cows and horses of Merens. The Ariège reveals grandiose landscapes from the rolling and green hills of the foothills to the high aerial and rocky peaks above 3,000 m in altitude - the Pique d'Estats, the Pic de Montcalm and the Pic du Port de Sullo -, passing through several passes used by the Tour de France. It is hard not to fall under the spell of the authentic Gascony mountain of the Couserans region with its 18 valleys alternating meadows and lakes, waterfalls and forests. Among its jewels, the jewel remains the wild valley of Bethmale. In addition to its sumptuous nature, there is a whole gourmet heritage around hearty dishes including aigo bullido, egg soup, azinat, a kind of potato, duck and goose confit, foie gras, garbure, confit and cabbage soup. Not to mention, a heritage of history and culture: prehistoric caves and Romanesque churches, Cathar castles and medieval towns... An original Ariege production? Talc is extracted from the quarries of the Ax-les-Thermes valleys. And, of course, you won't miss Foix and its castle.

What to see, what to do Ariège?

When to go Ariège ?

Ariège has two tourist seasons: summer and winter. Summer is the season for hikers and lovers of landscapes, air and nature, but also for mountain music festivals. In winter, the ski resorts come alive. The thermal season, for its part, runs from about mid-March to the end of November. All seasons are suitable for discovering the small Ariège capital of Foix and its castle, put in summer it is more pleasant and the tourist affluence remains sustainable. The same applies to the route of Cathar castles and Romanesque churches, fortified churches and churches with painted decorations (17th century). In winter, while skiers are skiing down the slopes, non-skiers can discover the Pays des Portes de l'Ariège, the nearest sector to Toulouse, against a backdrop of the Pyrenees chain. You can visit the cave site and its prehistoric museum all year round. The village of Carla-Bayle with its illuminated ramparts at night is also worth a visit. Rugby fans will be kept informed of the match schedule. They are numerous and generally spectacular.

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Discover Ariège

Discover the Ariège... Shouldn't we say "the Ariège(s)", as this department presents an amazing diversity of landscapes, cultures, heritages and history. Do you speak Gascon or Languedocien? It is the same Occitan and yet so different. The relief is already surprising and singular, passing from the calm plains of the south of Toulouse to the hills of the piedmont to finish, like a furious sea, on steep massifs, displaying their eternal snows and their peaks majestically raised towards the sky. One rarely passes through here, in this country nestled between France and Andorra, one always goes there for a good reason: it can be curiosity, the love of nature or the passion of History. But all these elements have built the Ariege people for 14 000 years, making them a proud and combative people who live between traditions and modernism in a country that takes the time to have time.

Pictures and images Ariège

Les étangs de Fontargente Julien - stock.adobe.com
Mirepoix mehdi33300 - Shutterstock.com
Edelweiss. PAULETTE RICHARD - ICONOTEC
Lac de Bethmale. Xavier - stock.adobe.com

The 12 keywords Ariège

1. # XXIst century

Ariège is not stuck in its past, which is certainly rich historically, and invests in the present and the future. The road network is continuously improved and maintained, mobility reinforced between towns and villages, but above all, fiber optics is destined to be everywhere on the territory thanks to Ariège Très Haut Débit.

2. # Mushrooms

There is no such thing! There never has been and there never will be. Ceps? Chanterelles? Rouzillous? Pichagots? Morels? But we tell you that there are none! Don't insist ! Surely in the neighboring departments, but not here! One can discuss everything with the Ariegeans but not this passionate subject. And if we spoke about the bear ?

3. # Counts of Foix

"Fébus aban!", "Rally to my white plume!" They have some famous phrases, our counts of Foix. Ah, you didn't know? But Henri IV was the last of the counts of Foix, very distant ancestor of Gaston Fébus (the blond with a black shoe). The counts have always made Foix a resistant, protective and combative city.

4. # History

Château de Montsegur © Julien - stock.adobe.com.jpg

But your castles are all broken! Oh no, not that of Foix, which is superbly preserved. The Ariège has a remarkable medieval heritage. Cathar citadels in ruins, perched on their rocky spur, ancestral bastides, thousand-year-old Romanesque churches, knights, troubadours, Cathars, Catholics, Protestants... : centuries of history.

5. # Industries

"A close friend of Napoleon Bonaparte described the Ariege in this way and congratulated the courage of those who extracted the precious mineral from the bottom of the mines. Textile was a manna but we must not forget paper, wood, horn combs... Tourism and advanced metallurgical industries have replaced these former activities.

6. # Mountains

Le mont Montcalm © Irfanlh - stock.adobe.com.jpg

"The Ariège goes up and down, it is never flat. Peaks, passes... 3 143 m for the Pique d'Estats, 3 077 m for the Montcalm. Without going to the extremes, the Plantaurel is hilly and only the Basse Ariège seems to live in flatness. It is a paradise for climbers on bikes or roped up. But the Ariegeans also have very good descents!

7. # Nature

No need to look, it is everywhere. A regional natural park, lakes, rivers and streams that crisscross the mountains and plains, forests as far as the eye can see, a rich and preserved fauna (grouse, bear, wild boar, deer, trout). Some species are protected, but others are the delight of hunters and fishermen.

8. # Prehistory

Man has lived in Ariège since the dawn of time and has used its reliefs and caves to protect himself. Charcoal drawings of animals using the curves of the wall, hands, hunting scenes ... Art, beliefs? Researchers are looking for and knowledge is advancing. Children have left footprints somewhere in a gallery of Niaux.

9. # Health

Les étangs de Fontargente ©  Julien - stock.adobe.com.jpg

How good is the air we breathe here. It is pure, full of oxygen, energizing. The four elements are galvanized by a kind of alchemy. The earth is omnipresent in its relief, the fire which heats these sulfurous waters which do so much good. Ariège is a haven of peace for those who want to isolate themselves or meditate in contact with a rich and healthy nature.

10. # Sports

There really is something here for everyone. Whether you like to hike or mountain bike along thousands of trails, climb wall-like walls, jump out of a plane, take off in a paraglider, canoe down ski slopes or tumultuous rivers, climb mountain passes on a bicycle... there's sure to be something for you!

11. # Terroir

Bethmale © RockerStocker - Shutterstock.com.jpg

The terroir is not only a sunny and rocky accent, it is above all authentic products made with respect for consumers and traditions. Cheeses from the Couserans, wines and beers from the plains, dry cured meats, sausages and hams, pâtés, terrines, and even foie gras. We are good at making everything good!

12. # Wow

This expression sums up the Ariège. You have already said it or you will do it soon if it is the first time you discover the breathtaking beauty of the department. Grandiose panoramas, various and varied sensations on the roads, the tracks, the rivers, in the air... Authentic products and especially warm-blooded people with a big heart.

You are from here, if...

You call the brave Toulousans who love our department "doryphores".

You "go up to the Pas" (pronounce the s) to buy your cigarettes and fuel (and butter and sugar!)

You tell everyone that there are no ceps this year, while eating your omelette.

You honk your horn in front of every sign indicating the entrance to the department.

When you introduce yourself, you are told that you like... the Ardèche a lot.

You only know the chorus of Se Canto, but you sing it at every meal.

You think that "the Parisians" know nothing about bears, fishing, hunting, pastoralism... in short, about the Ariege.

An Ariège native asks you, when you say that you are from here: "Yes... but from which valley?"

You don't understand why tourists laugh at the names of our villages... Seix, Les Verges, Saleix, Salau..

You eat chocolates and carry them in your pocket.

When you are invited without any precision, you know that it is necessarily for the aperitif.

Card Ariège

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