Around Ignaux, the Ariège has enough to fill several days: castles perched on rocks, caves with paintings thousands of years old, mountain villages.
Approximate driving times from Ax-les-Thermes. Check the opening times before setting off.
Tarascon-sur-Ariège is the gateway to the prehistoric sites: the prehistory park, well suited to children, and the Niaux cave, decorated in the Upper Palaeolithic and known for its Magdalenian figures. Guided visits, limited in number.
Prefecture of the Ariège with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, one of the smallest in France. Its castle, perched on a rock, overlooks the town. Plan the visit and a lunch in town.
The castle stands on a rocky peak. The siege ended there in 1244 with the surrender of the besieged. The climb on foot requires good shoes, and the view is worth the effort. Plan a full day.
The village that gave its name to the Mérens horse, a breed of black mountain horses.
With its wolf park.
With its Bassin des Ladres. See the town.
And in the other direction, Andorra is about 35 km away.
Depending on your mood: the Niaux cave and the prehistory park at Tarascon-sur-Ariège, the Foix castle, or Montségur for a longer day. Check the opening times before setting off.
Cave visits are in groups, with a limited number of places: it is wise to book in advance, especially in high season.
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