Welcome to Ariège
Thinking about planning a holiday? Well, if you still haven't thought of a destination where you can rest and disconnect without problems, we present you the Ariège department, where you will be able to do a lot of activities, as well as get to know nature and culture in depth.
It is a border area with Spain and Andorra, and since 2016 it has also been part of the Occitan region.
This is an area in the south of the country where you can travel to the past because of its rich prehistoric heritage. It is named after the river that runs across this area, and its capital, Foix, is one of the star destinations because it is so beautiful.
We wouldn’t like to forget to mention its rich gastronomy, something that delights all visitors who can enjoy a typical dish of the area, while contemplating the landscape left by the Pyrenees in its panoramic views.
What to see in Ariège?
Perfect for any kind of trip, this department in the south of France will make you enjoy a very complete rural tourism experience.
Starting with its natural spaces, with special mention to its Pyrenean mountains, valleys and lakes that you can visit on trekking routes as famous as the Route of the Cathars, which brings together up to 5,000 kilometres of perfectly marked trails.
In the middle of nature you will also find an open door to the past in the caves of Mas d'Azil and Niaux, where you can still see cave paintings. An activity not to be missed. Of course, you can visit a lot of castles that will make you feel like in the Middle Ages.
The typical villages located in the mountains will surprise you, some of them having thermal waters in their territory, another relaxing plan to do in this department. You can't miss it!
What curiosities are there?
It is undoubtedly one of the most complete destinations where you can spend a holiday in which spectacular natural spaces, subterranean surprises in the form of prehistoric caves, cultural heritage materialised in incredible fairy-tale castles, and a gastronomy with traditional dishes that are an explosion of flavours.
As you can see, this department, which borders both Spain and Andorra, has a lot to offer you.
And if all the above is not enough for you, don't forget about its capital: Foix, a town twinned with Andorra la Vieja, and with the Spanish province of Lleida.
It is also a perfect place to visit traditional villages protected by the Pyrenean landscapes where you can do many different winter sports in its more than ten seasons prepared for these activities, and perfect for any kind of tourist who is going to enjoy a holiday of ten.
Book online your ideal rural house in Ariège
Where can you sleep?
There is a wide range of accommodation available in the area, and it is spread over a lot of towns and cities with lots of things to do and see. Both for those who want to get lost in the middle of the mountains, and for those who are looking for something more central, there is a rural house, a hotel or a flat to rent.
For the urbanites, we recommend the capital of the department, where the essence of this city can be found in the old town. A place full of little streets to explore that lead to squares where you can have a good coffee. Of course, you have to visit in the highest part the Castillo de los Condes and its three impressive towers.
But if you're looking for some peace and quiet and relaxation, you've come to the right place. In the village of Ax-les-Thermes you have up to 80 springs with water that has unique properties, which has led to the construction of several spas where we recommend that you spend a relaxing day.
Villages such as Mirepoix, with its absolute medieval essence that you can see in its square may be another good option, although we recommend that you also visit Cité de Saint Lizier, the old bishop's seat, and Niaux, the town that is home to one of the most important caves in the department.
What to do in the area?
If you are going to travel to this department that is part of the Occitan region, we recommend that you stay several days as there are a lot of places to visit.
Starting with the natural part, without a doubt the Ariège Pyrenees Regional Nature Park can be a good activity if you travel with children as they will discover the most natural part of the area, and they will also be able to practice a lot of activities.
The Prehistoric Park will delight the little ones as they will be able to get to know a little bit more about that period through interactive workshops, activities such as spear throwing, or making a fire like in prehistoric times.
Without leaving this period yet, we recommend you also visit the cave in the Niaux where you can see the cave paintings, as well as the cave of Lombrives and its underground river, the largest navigable underground river in Europe.
As for the charming villages, Foix and its castle, Seix and its typical houses surrounded by nature, Comiac and its old barns or the beautiful village of Saint Lizier where you can visit the Palace of the Bishops, yet another World Heritage Site, are perfect options.
What typical foods are recommended?
This department has a large number of delicious dishes that make up a complete menu, from starters to dessert that will sweeten your gastronomic experience of this area.
As for the starters, we could highlight the Tomme des Pyrenees cheese, which has two variants: black and golden skinned. We recommend that you try both, produced from cow's milk.
Continuing with the cheeses, such a well-known and reputed product in this country, we want you to try the bethmale, another French variety of this product that is typical from Couserans.
Now that we have whetted your appetite, let's move on to the first courses by trying the famous azinat, which is a traditional dish from the Ariège valley and consists of mixing cabbage, with other vegetables and a piece of bacon. This is a hearty dish that used to be eaten by people who worked in the fields, but it is worth trying.
Another traditional recipe you must try is the mounjetado, typical of the south-western part of France, in which beans are combined with meat in a casserole full of flavour.
And we reach the end of our gastronomic adventure at dessert, with two main stars that are the croustade, which is a very rich puff pastry tart, and the Ariège flakes, a sweet made of a fine meringue filled with hazelnut praline.
Where are the festivities?
The festivities in this department are very varied and are spread out over the whole calendar, so that when you travel, you are sure to find a traditional festival to visit and enjoy in some nearby town or village.
Like all decent festivities, the streets and traditional monuments are decorated for the occasion. An occasion where you will be able to discover the traditional music and dances and, why not, try any of their local products in the stalls that occupy their streets.
Some of the best-known festivals are the San Miguel Fair, one of the most traditional, which is held in the village of Tarascon sur Ariège, and which focuses on livestock. A perfect opportunity to experience the buying and selling of sheep, horses and donkeys as in the past.
The Teatro de Verdure is held in the town of Foix in August, one of the town's best-known festivals. But if you travel a month later, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy its festivals.
Easter and Christmas are also two big events in this department, where the streets are perfectly dressed for the occasion.
