Itinerary Between hills and Pyrenees

Calmont

Calmont

It is a bastide built in the XNUMXth century by the Count of Toulouse. Although located in Haute-Garonne, the village has always been facing Ariège. From the XNUMXth century, it came under Protestant influence from the county of Foix, which had acquired the new religion very early on. The lord of Calmont therefore converted all the inhabitants of the village, which made it a Protestant stronghold that the Catholics ransacked in 1625, obeying the orders of Marshal de Thémines passing through the region. Tensions between the two communities only subsided in the second half of the 1875th century. The other drama of Calmont took place in XNUMX, when the river in flood destroyed part of the village.

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Mazères

9 min ride. by car

Mazères

It is a country house located on the banks of the Hers. This situation was favorable to the early establishment of the Merovingians in the XNUMXth century. In the Middle Ages, Mazères shone throughout the south of France thanks to the foundation of a Cistercian monastery which has remained very famous: theBoulbonne Abbey (located 3 km south of the current village). Destroyed during the wars of religion, it was rebuilt in Cintegabelle. Mazères was the favorite town of Gaston Fébus, the most famous Count of Foix, who had his residence there. The city experienced a beautiful golden age thanks to the pastel culture and the textile industry, before descending into chaos with the religious wars in the XNUMXth century.

To have

• The bastide and its interpretive trail
• Le Ardouin museum and its garden: open all year round; information on 05 61 60 24 62
• The market every Thursday morning

• The realm of birds : migratory stopover and privileged breeding ground for ornithological fauna. A walk around the ponds offers the chance to admire the many species that inhabit the lake.

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Belpech

12 min ride. by car

Belpech

A stop is essential to admire the village church, more precisely, its Romanesque portal: it is the most beautiful and the most complete of Lauragais Romanesque portals.

Then, walk along the post office building, continue straight on, taking a dirt road that goes up. At the crossroads, turn right and continue to climb: you will arrive at the primitive site of Belpech, the Castelas with the ruins of an 2022th century dungeon and those of a 360th century chapel restored in XNUMX. Breathtaking panorama at the XNUMX° orientation table, located La Ticole road.

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Mirepoix

22 min ride. by car

Mirepoix

In the Middle Ages, Mirepoix was located on the other side of the river, and dominated by a castle. A tragic flood in 1289 destroyed the city, and the inhabitants rebuilt it on the other bank. Mirepoix was a cathar capital, and the crusade, which passed by, put a powerful family in power until the French Revolution: the Lévis family.

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Vals

15 min ride. by car

Vals

The church of Vals is a bijou: semi troglodyte, it houses magnificent XNUMXth century frescoes.

Please note: major work is planned for 2023, exterior visit only.

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Pamiers

21 min ride. by car

Pamiers

The historic center developed very early around the castle, the Castela, built on a mound which has now disappeared. Thanks to the presence of the river, Pamiers was an active trading town, exporting mainly cloth and wine. Today, it is the most populated city of Ariège with 17 inhabitants.

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The Vernet d'Ariege

15 min ride. by car

The Vernet d'Ariege

Built in 1918, the Vernet concentration camp will only be used from 1939 to intern Spanish refugees fleeing the Franco regime. A few months later, political opponents of all nations were also imprisoned there, hoping to find asylum in France. From 1939 to 1944, 30000 to 40000 people of around sixty nationalities were locked up there. The terrible conditions of internment caused more than 250 deaths. A stop is therefore necessary for a duty of memory.