Tourist guide

AUDE DEPARTMENT

Prefecture : Carcassonne
Population : 345,800
WebSite : www.cg11.fr

The department, with a population of 350,200, owes its name to the coastal river which flows through it. Its is located between two mountain chains, the Pyrenees to the South and the Montagne Noire to the North but its is above all famous for its 47-kms coastline with its famous seaside resorts: Leucate, Fitou, Lapalme, Sigean, Port-la-Nouvelle, Peyriac de Merc, Barges, Narbonne, Gruissan and Fleury d’Aude. The former Cathar area is scattered with castles while the spectacular walls of the medieval prefecture of Carcassonne is a world treasure. There is plenty on offer for tourists from beaches to rides along the Canal du Midi or treks in open nature. Wine, with a great emphasis on quality in recent years, has always been a major asset with appellations such as Minervois, Corbieres or Limoux’s blanquette.

CASTELNAUDARY

KM 16 : CASTELNAUDARY (Pop: 11,000)

The former capital of the Lauragais region, a stronghold of the Cathar heresy, Castelnaudary is famous nowadays for its culinary speciality, cassoulet. With 11,000 inhabitants, the town is the central point of the Canal du Midi and its Grand Bassin is a spectacular 18 acres pond. From there, the view is fantastic with the St Roch locks on the one hand and the Cybele island protecting the Canal against strong winds on the other. In the past, the basin was covered with boats loading grain for Sete, Toulouse or the Atlantic. Now, it is a yachting base attracting more tourists since it was declared a World Heritage site. Castelnaudary claims to be the capital of cassoulet yet Toulouse and Carcassonne also insist they invented the recipe. Cassoulet was named after the “cassole”, a terracotta pan made in the nearby village of Issel

ARIEGE DEPARTMENT

Prefecture : Foix
Population : 148,600
WebSite : www.cg09.fr

Nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees, its back to Spain and Andorra, Ariege is an area of mountains, valleys and lakes, which has been inhabited forever. Twelve painted caves are invaluable testimonies of our far past while the Middle Ages have left a treasure of castles and roman churches in the former land of the Cathars. Water, sun, snow and fresh air: everything is combined to make Ariege the ideal place for nature lovers. Food is as tasty and copious as it used to be while catering has kept its authenticity. The building of a new motorway, the A66, has made Ariege much more accessible while the department keeps true to Napoleon’s saying which went: “Ariege produces men and iron”.

MIREPOIX

KM 51,5 : MIREPOIX (Pop: 3 260)

Placed under the authority of the Count of Foix, Mirepoix was won over by the Cathars in the late 12th century. In 1206, 600 Cathars attended a council in town. Mirepoix was taken by Simon de Montfort, who handed it over to one of his lieutenants, Guy de Levis, the founder of the Levis-Mirepoix family. A flood of the river Hers destroyed the town in 1289 and it was rebuilt on the other bank of the river on an elevated terrace given by the local lord to the people. Its 14th century cathedral, neglected after Mirepoix lost its diocese, was restored in 1860 by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc.

LERAN

KM 64,5 : LERAN (Pop: 539)

Its narrow little streets remind the medieval past of Leran, whose castle was first mentioned in 1164. Guy de Levis and the Albigensian Crusade were landmarks on the village’s history. Attacked in 1622 by the Count of Carmaing, the castle was preserved thanks to the plea of the landlady. It was confiscated during the Revolution and bought back by the Lveis family in 1805. Since 1983, it belong to a private company.

CHALABRE

KM 76 : CHALABRE (Pop: 1,200)

A picturesque village with elegant old houses, Chalabre once made a living by making hats. The village developed in the 14th century, after the Albigensian Crusade, when a fortified house was built. The castle was enhanced between the 13th and the 18th century. A local association, the Knights of Kercorb, organise original visits of the castle, allowing visitors to play the part of a castle dweller. Equestrian shows and medieval dancing are also on the programme.

ESPERAZA

KM 98,5 : ESPERAZA (Pop: 2,200)

This pleasant village lived for centuries thanks to the hat making industry, an activity now replaced by tourism. Visits to the Dinosaurs Museum, the old hat manufacture and the honey mill attract hundreds of visitors. Esperaza was the birthplace of Paul Barriere, former president of the French Rugby League and founder of the International Board, who created the sport’s World Cup.

USSON-LES-BAINS

KM 139,5 : USSON-LES-BAINS

The Usson castle, standing at 923 metres on a hill, is one of the oldest in the region since its construction began in the late 10th century. It was occupied until 1794 and still holds the traces of this long occupation. It belonged to the sires of Alion, who pledged allegiance to Simon of Montfort while protecting the Cathars as much as they could. Sold and dismantled after the Revolution, it was saved from total demolition when a restoration campaign started in 1990.

AX-LES THERMES

KM 174 : AX-LES THERMES (Pop: 1,500)

Ax has been since ancient times devoted to water and hydrotherapy. At the crossroads of three valleys, it has always been a passage site, especially for the Tour de France, which stopped here nine times if we take into account the finishes up on the Plateau de Bonascre. The site was well known since Roman times and its takes its name from the Latin acquae: waters. Its 80 springs made it a popular spa town ever since the Middle Ages. In 1260, the Count of Foix, Roger IX built a leprosarium for knights affected by leprosy on their return from the Crusades. The exploitation of the waters developed from then on. The hottest spring water in Ax reaches 77 degrees. Breeding cattle and sheep was the other wealth of Ax until the creation of the Ax 3-Domaines ski resort.