Julian is an excellent skiier and Hilary is a total novice, so you have a view from both ends of the expertise scale…. We visited Ax for a week in 2013 and were very impressed with the range of facilities and the different levels of difficulty of the slopes in the “3 domaines”.  A lovely […]

Our closest ski station is Mont D’Olmes – around 30 minutes drive.  Usually open from early January when the snows arrive, the station is more suited to beginners and fun skiiers, although there are some more challenging runs.  You can see the slopes from Las Coumeilles winding round the back of the Pic de Han. […]

The Ariegeois really (and I mean really) enjoy their food! Gastronomie is something they are seriously into and proud of.  You’ll find day and evening markets across the region devoted to fine foods and wine.  One of our favourites is in the village of Leran, about 15 minutes away.  Every Friday through the summer the […]

Every year in August, a dedicated band of creative people put on a show that will amaze you.  The Extraordinary Garden is just that – extraordinary. The valley floor is covered with sunflowers and cosmos and fantastic structures pop up covered in climbing squash and gourds.  Artist installations are hidden away in the woods and […]

Yet another castle in Foix!  We’re surrounded by such a rich history.  Foix is also the town where we do our shopping and enjoy a regular stroll through the market square and enjoy it narrow streets and cafés. But it has a rich cultural life too.  Here are a few images from a recent night […]

What can I say?                 A manmade lake set in a beautiful location.  Its great by day, with beaches and pedalos and two different points to hire boats or get a tasty snack.  But at night, its breathtaking.

The Cathars are an important part of the history of this region.  Religious dissidents, they were persecuted by the Church until finally they were eradicated from Occitania (the old name for this southern part of France).  rather than try and do a potted history, there are a number of good websites that you can go […]

Now we’ve finished work on the house, we’re hoping to get out a bit more and explore the walking potential of this amazing place.  The Cathar Trail (Sentier Cathare) is one of the Grandes Routes that criss-cross France and is well marked along its length.  It runs from Foix to Port la Nouvelle and goes […]

A cave you can drive through?  Really?  Yes really.  There’s an official cave visit through the network which is very interesting, but the first impression as you arrive is hard to beat.                           Find out more on their website.  The tour includes a […]

We are privileged in this area to have one of the few cave systems with neolithic paintings still open to the public.  Understandably, photos are not allowed in the cave, so take a look on their website to see more.  All I can say is that when the lights were switched on in the main cave, […]

The ‘bastide’ town of Mirepoix is an absolute gem.  If you drive through, it would be easy to miss what’s hidden away in the medieval square…. Developed to protect the town from marauders (from all over the place), the houses in the centre formed a barrier to keep the people safe.  Today it is home […]

For many people, the medieval city of Carcassone is the first thing that they find out about in our region.  Strictly it’s over the border in the Aude, but only 80km away so easily reachable as a day trip.  Many budget airlines also fly into the airport in Carcassonne which is tiny and really great […]

The next village up the valley is Roquefixade with another stunning Cathar castle.  Views from the village are amazing.  The ancient church in the village hosts summer concerts with interesting programmes of regional traditional music.