Ornolac-Ussat-Les-Bains: Hotels and accommodations

Medically supervised thermal treatments are offered in Ussat-les-Bains. Among other treatments, the thermal facility offers baths in the exercise pool, underwater showers, general and local showers, compresses, treatments in the exercise pool, and thermal massages. The thermal water of Ussat is described as containing sulfates, calcium, and magnesium, as well as silicic acid and oligometals.

If you choose Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains as your destination, you will want to find accommodations there.

Thermal facilities

The historic Thermes Fraxine in Ussat-les-Bains is an elongated thermal building with a rectangular floor plan and an arcade gallery leading to the bathing cabins. In 1869, the gallery of the Thermes Fraxine contained forty Carrara marble bathtubs, several showers of a new system, and an equal number of comfortable cabins.

Culture and history

The Spoulga d’Ornolac is a fortified cave. It has a 50-meter-long corridor with two entrances; both ends are blocked by walls. The Spoulgas d’Ornolac and their surroundings have been listed as protected sites since March 17, 1943.

The Church of Saint-Pierre in Barry-en-Haut is a Romanesque church; the origins of the present building probably date back to the 12th century. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and has three apses. The church also has a Stations of the Cross with 14 stations; the figures are made of bronze and mounted on wooden panels.

The thermal chapel of Ussat-les-Bains has a Latin-cross floor plan. Since the thermal facility of Ussat-les-Bains began operating in the 18th century, the thermal chapel has enabled poor people and paying spa guests to attend services. A chapel in Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains dates back at least to the first half of the 12th century.

The former casino of Ussat-les-Bains was built in the 1870s. From 1879 onward, it was described as a café in some archival documents, while various guidebooks from the late 19th to the early 20th century continued to mention it as a casino.

Nature and trails

The Natura 2000 site “Quiès calcaires de Tarascon-sur-Ariège et grotte de la Petite Caougno” includes Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains as one of the designated municipalities. In the area of Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains, the site features large limestone cliffs and slopes with vegetation typical of dry habitats. The protected area includes holm oak forests, stands of Phoenician juniper, birds of prey, bats, and exceptional orchids. Over a distance of one kilometer, the Natura 2000 site ranges from an altitude of 400 to 1,500 meters and includes several caves and cavities.

Hikes and activities

The “Ornolac et Ussat” hiking route passes through the villages of Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains and Ussat. It reaches the Col d’Ussat at an altitude of 843 meters; there, trails to Arnave, Lugeat, and Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains intersect. For this hiking route, it is recommended to park in Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains under the plane trees in the thermal park near the intersection with the D123.

The official hiking guide lists “Le Clot de la Carbonière” as a hike starting in Ornolac-Ussat-les-Bains, with a duration of 3 hours and 20 minutes, 490 meters of elevation gain, difficulty level 2, and a starting elevation of 480 meters.

The offering at the Gouffre des eaux chaudes includes three rappels with a maximum length of 15 meters. The activity also includes an optional swim in the final siphon, where the water temperature is 21 degrees.

Other destinations: Carcanières, Villeneuve-D'olmes, Ignaux, Tarascon-Sur-Ariège, Lavelanet, Aulus-Les-Bains, Ustou, Les Cabannes

To the higher-level travel overview: Ariège.