Ariège Travel Guide: Foix, Niaux Cave, Montségur & Ax-les-Thermes

DepartmentAriège
From Toulouse~1 h to Foix
Best forCastles, caves, quiet hiking
Stay2–4 nights

The department of Ariège runs from the foothills south of Toulouse to the Andorran border. It's sparsely populated, heavily forested and rich in history, from Ice Age art to the Cathar heresy of the Middle Ages.

Foix

The three towers of the Château de Foix rise above the old town where the Ariège and Arget rivers meet. The castle was the seat of the powerful Counts of Foix and has a lively, family-friendly museum.

Prehistory

Near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, the Grotte de Niaux holds some of the finest Ice Age paintings still open to visitors. The nearby Parc de la Préhistoire brings the period to life, and the underground river of Labouiche can be explored by boat.

Cathar castles

The ruins of Montségur, the last Cathar stronghold, sit on a rocky peak to the east. The castles of Roquefixade and Usson are equally atmospheric and far quieter.

Ax-les-Thermes

This spa town has dozens of hot springs, and its open-air Bassin des Ladres is a free foot bath fed by water at around 70°C. The Ax 3 Domaines ski area is reached by gondola from town.