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relaxing activities with climb09
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| Based at our comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation in the heart of the Ariège Pyrénées there's no end of relaxing activities you can enjoy... ...from lazing in the garden around the house, visiting the festivals and markets of Foix, stepping back in time in the Cathar castles, exploring the impressive local caves to more vigorous pursuits including skiing and even house-hunting - there's a holiday here for everyone! |
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foix
Foix, the capital city of the Ariège, lies just 10 minutes drive away from La Mouline. The small town is dominated by the castle perched high above it on a rocky outcrop, and the narrow back streets hold plenty of reminders of the medieval past. Naturally there are many restaurants in Foix, and in the summer the centre is the scene of several festivals - see our events calendar for an idea of what is going on. Friday is market day, and it is always worth heading down in the morning for this bustling scene.
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 Roquefixade Castle |
The Cathar castles which dot the Ariège and extend to the north and east bear witness to a particular period in the history of this region. During the 12th and 13th centuries Catharism, a divergence from the Roman Catholic branch of Christianity, was widely practised in ancient Occitania. Castles at Roquefixade and in Foix itself are airily perched on rocky outcrops, as is the castle at Montségur - scene of the barbaric end to the crusade against the Cathars. More castles tower over the route east towards Perpignan - those at Piulaurens, Peyrepertuse and Quéribus being especially dramatic. Interest in this history has soared lately, with the books of Kate Mosse such as Labyrinth reviving local legends. These include the stories from the ancient walled city of Carcassonne, well worth the visit and just one hour away.
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The limestone geology of this area has resulted in a rich, varied and famous set of caves you can visit. Pride of place goes perhaps to Niaux, famous for its prehistoric cave paintings and offering guided tours. This pre-history is further explored in the 'Parc de la Préhistoire' where youngsters can recreate some of the ways of life from 14,000 years ago. More cave paintings can be seen at the nearby Grotte de Bédeilhac, and bone carvings at the Grotte de la Vache. More impressive is the Grotte at Lombrives, billed as the largest cave in Europe! Closer to home, the Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche is just minutes from Foix. This boasts the longest navigable underground river in Europe which you can enjoy by boat for a relaxing visit on a hot day.
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Though maybe not the most relaxing activities, there's plenty of fun to be had when the snow arrives here in the Pyrénées. Downhill skiing and snowboarding can be had at Mont d'Olmes, Ascou-Pailheres and Ax-les-Thermes, with cross-country skiing at Plateau de Beille and Chioula. All of these resorts are less than an hours drive from us. In very snowy winters there's even cross-country skiing at a small station at the top of our valley. Days out on 'raquettes' (snow-shoes) are also an option - a great chance to have a 'walk' in the fresh air on untouched snow.
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We have had several visitors join us to stay for a few days while searching for a house in the area, and we'd be just as happy to welcome you for the same reason. We can tell you a bit about the villages you are looking in and supply a list of website links for estate agents in the area. |
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