Ariège: Hotels and accommodation

Ariège has six ski areas for alpine skiing: Ax-3-Domaines, Guzet, Les Monts d’Olmes, Ascou, Mijanès-Donezan and Goulier.

Winter

Ariège’s four Nordic areas are Plateau de Beille, Etang de Lers, Chioula and Mijanès. Cross-country skiing, skating, snowshoeing, Nordic walking, trail running, dog sledding and biathlon are possible there.

Plateau de Beille has 40 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails. Chioula has 48 kilometres of cross-country ski trails and 16 kilometres of snowshoe trails. The Ax-3-Domaines ski resort is directly connected by cable car to Ax-Les-Thermes.

At Ariège’s lakes and natural sites, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, walking, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, skiing and snowshoeing are possible.

Perhaps you would like to find a hotel for your stay in Ariège.

Geographical location

Ariège is located in the Pyrenees. The mountain landscape includes cirques, waterfalls, peaks, valleys and lakes.

The Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Ariégeoises is recognised for the diversity of its natural, cultural and landscape heritage across 138 municipalities. In Ariège’s wooded landscapes, it is possible to encounter chamois, deer and marmots.

Getting there

Ariège can be explored without a car by train, bus or bicycle. Daily SNCF services to Foix operate from Paris, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Bordeaux and Montpellier.

By road, Ariège is approximately one hour from Toulouse and approximately one hour from Carcassonne.

Culture and history

The Château De Montségur was converted into a royal fortress in the late 13th century to defend the Aragonese border.

The entrance hall of the Grotte de Niaux is 55 metres high and 50 metres wide. For conservation reasons, only the first 800 metres are open to visitors. Free parking is available on site; the access road is a narrow mountain road.

The Grotte du Mas-d’Azil has been classified as a Monument historique since 1942. Its archaeological reputation gave its name to the prehistoric period known as the Azilian. The Musée de la Préhistoire in Ariège is the département’s only prehistoric museum and displays remarkable objects from the cave.

Ariège offers visitors a heritage spanning 14,000 years of history. The Tour de France has been associated with Ariège since 1903; the race regularly crosses the region’s mountain passes.

Cuisine

Products associated with Ariège include saucisse de Foie, Bethmale cheese, millas, flocon d’Ariège, wine, foie gras, honey, preserves and fruit juices. Bethmale is a classic cheese from Ariège made from cow’s milk; there are also versions made from sheep’s milk, goat’s milk and mixed milk.

The Saturday morning market in Saint-Girons offers a selection of local cheeses, including tommes, crottins, pyramids and palets.

Further pages: Les Cabannes, Mercus-Garrabet, Ornolac-Ussat-Les-Bains, Villeneuve-D'olmes, Ignaux, Carcanières, Le Pla, Siguer, Luzenac, Lʼhospitalet-Près-Lʼandorre, Ercé, Montferrier, Lavelanet, Tarascon-Sur-Ariège, Tignac, Saint Lary, Aulus-Les-Bains, Ustou.

To the overview of higher-level destinations: Midi Pyrenees.