Do you dream of parentheses in the heart of nature? A change of scenery, green leisure activities, and above all, a holiday far, far away from the crowds so that you can recharge your batteries in peace and quiet? Head for the small village of Artigat, in the department of Ariège.
In the Occitan region, the small village of Artigat is located 70 kilometres south of Toulouse, and about 20 kilometres from Foix. In the heart of the Lèze valley, in the magnificent Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees, Artigat is, let it be said, a real little paradise of tranquillity. If the amateurs of Zen holidays will find there their account, the sportsmen will also have a lot of fun. Bordering on the Spanish border, the park is dotted with a myriad of hiking, walking, horseback riding and cycling trails, routes that will allow you to discover Artigat and its neighbouring valleys, but also the pretty little villages that make the region a popular area for lovers of green tourism. Watered by the river Lèze, the village is a peaceful little town made up of many fields and very, very few shops (and that's why we love it!): a Post Office, a Town Hall, a small grocery store, in short, enough to buy food and post your holiday cards. And that's enough! Here, we like to take our time. Take the time to stroll around, admire the old houses in the town centre with wooden shutters and orange tile roofs, and get lost in the sandstone of its little country lanes.
A few kilometres further south, the Mas d'Azil Cave is worth seeing. Easily accessible by car or bicycle, this underground cave, crossed by the Arize River which has shaped its contours, is wide open in the Plantaurel massif. Occupied during Prehistory, it has many rooms and galleries spread over three levels and is worth the detour for their beauty.
Still in the area, the Carla-Bayle lake will be perfect for a refreshing break under the sun. Situated at the foot of the bastide town of Carla-Bayle, next to Artigat, this 11-hectare lake attracts families thanks to its leisure centre with a mini-golf, tennis, skate park, beach volleyball and children's playgrounds. You will be able to picnic by the water, fish, ride a pedal boat, paddle, towed buoys and swim! Because here, in summer, the sun beats down on you and cool breaks are widely appreciated, especially after long days of hiking. The lake is also surrounded by hiking trails and mountain bike routes, so that you can make the most of all your desires.
Not far from the lake is the Sequoia Vertigo Park, a large adventure park which offers sporting and playful itineraries in the heart of a forest of large sequoias: cables, footbridges, Nepalese bridges and zip lines will help you to walk through the forest a little like Tarzan, while discovering the nature and the fauna that inhabit the forest thanks to educational trails.
Finally, don't miss the visit of Foix! With its marvellous castle perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Ariège valley, Foix is a must for lovers of history as well as for lovers of gastronomy, who will be able to sit down in many small restaurants to succumb to the delights of Ariège cuisine. Azinat, monjetado, taillous, rouzole on the salty side, bethmale, moulis and rogallais on the cheese side, croustade du couserans and milhassou with pumpkin on the sweet side are all dishes with singing names that are sure to delight the taste buds of the whole family.
