Ariege Valley, France

The Ariege Valley is located in southwestern France, near Toulouse. It is formed by the counties of Foix and Cuzeran and is one of the most beautiful areas in the Pyrenees. The population of the valley is about 160 thousand people. The chief town is Foix. Attractions in the Ariege Valley:

The Ma d'Azille Cave The Ma d'Azille Cave is located on the road from Toulouse along the valley of the river. It is located in the valley of the Lez. The huge Ma d'Azil cave gave its name to the Azil culture. The Arisir door is the entrance to the cave on the south side, 51 m high and 48 m wide. The river Ariz passes through here. In the northern part of the cave, the tunnel is huge and in part of the cave is natural. It is 410 m long and its width is such that a car can drive through. From the Ma d'Azil cave there are branches of smaller caves that were inhabited by prehistoric people for about 20 thousand years. The cave later served as a refuge for Cathars in the 13th century, Protestants who took refuge here during a siege of a neighboring town in 1625. A small 3rd century chapel has also been discovered here. Remains of mammoths, cave bears and rhinos have been found in the Ma d'Azil cave.

San Lisie San Lisie is a small fortified village situated on a hill in the Ariege valley. An outstanding landmark of San Lisieux is the Cathedral of Saint Lisieux. Its architecture is unusually interesting. There is a vaulted gallery on two floors, and the columns have wonderfully carved quoins on them. The Gothic bell tower of pink bricks is lovely. The 12th-century Sed Cathedral is the other landmark of San Lisieux.

Foa Foa town and castle is the main town of the Ariege valley. It is pleasant to walk around and the old part of the town, with its narrow winding streets, is a reminder of the times when brave defenders of the Cathar faith lived here. Simon de Montfort besieged it four times until he succeeded in capturing it in 1211. Of the formidable castle above the town, the most interesting are the three towers, the oldest of which dates from the 11th century. Thrill seekers can climb to the top to enjoy the magnificent views of the city and the mountains.

Caves in the Ariege Valley "Bedejak" is a prehistoric giant stalagmite cave located northwest of Tarascon sur Ariege. Its walls are covered with paintings of Paleolithic animals, painted about 15 thousand years ago.

The Cathedral Cave is located in Lombrive. There is a train to go around the caves.

The Nio caves are located south of Tarascon-sur-Ariege and are famous for some of the finest prehistoric cave paintings in Europe. Their floors are uneven and slippery, but what can be seen here is impressive: depictions of bison, horses and deer with exquisitely rendered detail. In the village of Nio is the Pyrenees Museum, dedicated to crafts and traditional life in the Ariege. The Prehistoric Park in Tarascon is also interesting.

Monsegur Monsegur is the last bastion of the Cathars in the Ariege valley. This area became the centre of Cathar resistance after the Treaty of Moe gave legal support to the Albigensian crusade against the Cathars. Monsegur's neighbouring fortresses fell one by one until the lord of Monsegur turned this gloomy castle into a refuge for Cathar heretics. But in 1244, after a ten-month siege, the defenders of Monsegur surrendered. Two weeks later, more than 200 men, women and child Cathars who refused to renounce their faith were burned alive at a huge stake. A monument was erected in their memory at the foot of Monsegur.