アリエールの天然記念物・トップ5

A magnificent spot with the road winding under the rock, running alongside a partially underground stream. It's both breathtaking and peaceful. Plus, there's a starting point for a short walk; I did the beginning and it was lovely: I'd love to come back and do a longer section!

Couserans is a Gascon country of mountains, hills, meadows, lakes, waterfalls and forests which is entirely part of the Pyrénées Ariégeoises Regional Natural Park. Among its 18 valleys located at the foot of the majestic Mount Valier, some remained landlocked until the recent past, which allowed them to maintain their own identity, such as the Bethmale valley. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was an overpopulated country whose small agricultural plots did not allow families to live, which is why the inhabitants had to show a lot of imagination to find survival activities. This is how some became “bear handlers”, peddlers of vanilla, fake stone, ice. Others became itinerant “raw distillers” or gold prospectors.

In this magnificent prehistoric cave, crossed in its entirety by both the Arize river and a road, prehistoric portable art dating from the Azilian was discovered. The most famous of his sculptures is undoubtedly the spear-thrower called the bird fawn. In the middle of the cave, a museum opens its doors to visitors. Come and learn a little more about this period of the Upper Palaeolithic. Be careful when crossing the cavity. A good lamp is mandatory, because some parts are very dark and the pavement on the side can be treacherous.

You follow Arize, cushy, when you wonder where you're going to end up getting out of this valley, and there, BOOM, THE BIG HOLE. Spectacular. In the water, it's noisy and dark. Stay focused on the road, the gutter is cruel.

Old pastoral huts and dry stone walls restored in order to preserve this heritage.

Nice climb on bitumen from Castelnau-Durban to reach Balès and a magnificent and balaise (steep) grassy track to join the forest of the Col de la Rille. Passage to the Croix d'Esplats, characteristic for its pink marble base. Be careful, the Tour de la Crie hiking trail is very stony and requires a few pushes… You can avoid it by staying on the road but you go down to go back up.

This dam lake is the ideal place to take a refreshment break, soak your legs, swim or even bivouac.

quiet and pleasant