Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, Ariège is one of France’s most unspoilt departments. Here, nature reveals itself in all its wild, unspoilt beauty and authenticity. From the plains of the Ariège to the foothills of the Pyrenees, from the gentle valleys of the Séronnais to the majestic landscapes of the Couserans or the Haute Ariège, there is no shortage of things to do.
Near the holiday cottages in Ruffié (Foix)
| Visit the Château des Comtes de Foix and its brand-new exhibition layout | 3 km |
| Visit the Pyrène Forges site and its museum of traditional crafts in Montgailhard | 7 km |
| Take a boat trip to explore the Labouiche underground river in Baulou | 8 km |
| Pop along for a drink (in season) at the Labarre Foix water sports centre | 5 km |
| Climb up to the ruins of Labarre Castle in Foix | 5 km |
| Take the St Sauveur walk or the Pech terraces walk (starting from Foix) | 3 km |
| Go for a walk, have a picnic or watch the sunset at Prat d’Albis | 18 km |
Within a 25 km radius of the holiday cottages
| Take a drive along the D17 to the Col des Marrous and carry on to the Col de Péguere | 15 km |
| Visit the reptile farm at La Bastide-de-Sérou | 18 km |
| Play a round of golf at the Unjat Eco-Golf Course (La Bastide de Sérou) | 20 km |
| Go pedal boating or try the water ski lift in Mercus | 20 km |
| Visit the Bédeilhac Cave | 20 km |
| Visit Lombrives Cave | 21 km |
| Visit the Tarascon Prehistory Park (see our page on prehistory) | 22 km |
| Visit the stunning Niaux Cave | 25 km |
Within a radius of 35 km or more
| Visit the Mas d’Azil Cave | 35 km |
| Visit Xploria, the forest where you can explore time, at Mas d’Azil | 35 km |
| Visit the medieval town of Mirepoix | 38 km |
| Visit Montségur Castle | 38 km |
| Visit the cloister and the Bishops’ Palace in St Lizier | 46 km |
| Discover the beautiful Orlu Valley and its tourist attractions (mountain activities and tree-top adventure courses) | 50 km |
Head to the Principality of Andorra, to the famous ‘Pas de la Casa’ | 75 km |
Other things to do in Ariège
- Cycling, mountain biking and walking along the greenways of Mirepoix and La Bastide de Sérou, or on the roads of Ariège (see our dedicated page);
- From a stroll to a short hike;
- Mountain hiking: the upper Vicdessos Valley, the Ariège, and the Couserans;
- Horse;
- Canoeing on the Ariège in Foix, Pamiers and Ussat;
- Pedalos and swimming in the lakes at Montbel and Mercus;
- Birdwatching in Mazères;
- From the thalassotherapy centre in Ax-les-Thermes to the thermal leisure centre or Ussat-les-Bains;
- Not to mention: the markets in the Ariège region and local festivals. A selection of tourist guides and the summer events programme are available for you to use at the gîte.
A little extra from your hosts
Cécile is a publisher in Ariège and publishes an annual guide to life’s simple pleasures, featuring the region’s most spectacular and romantic spots, ideas for easy walks or picnics, as well as notable heritage sites. She also publishes the Ariège Festival Gazette
Laurence, a globetrotter, specialises in publishing guidebooks on eco-volunteering projects in France and around the world. She has created and runs the websites eco-volontaire.com and cap sur la terre
Foix Castle
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